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Fire chief reports grants, SIM man sale and CPR class; residents press trustees about former chief investigation
Summary
The fire chief told trustees a pending $10,000 philanthropic grant and a potential larger grant for a dog park; the department sold a SIM man for $14,000 and will offer a Nov. 19 CPR class. During public comment residents questioned trustees about an independent investigation into a former fire chief and alleged misuse of township funds; trustees,
At the start of public business on Oct. 27 the Morgan Township fire chief gave a brief report outlining two grant efforts, a recent equipment sale and public training opportunities.
The chief said the department applied for a $10,000 grant from an Oxford Masonic philanthropic fund to support local families and expected to learn the award amount in a few weeks. He added the department plans to apply early next year for a larger grant that could fund an addition to the park such as a dog park; the chief said the dog‑park proposal is privately funded in principle and the philanthropic organization “seem[ed] very open to that idea.”
The department sold a training SIM man for $14,000 to an area fire department and said the buyer has agreed to lend the unit back if needed. The chief also announced a final CPR class for the year on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 p.m.; contact information for Captain Yon appeared on the meeting flyer.
During public comment the meeting shifted to questions about department governance and a past investigation into the former fire chief. A resident asked trustees whether an independent investigation had been paid for and whether it concluded that public funds were misused. Trustees said there was a third‑party investigator involved through the Butler County prosecutor’s office and that the investigation produced evidence of unauthorized payments; trustees said county officials offered the former chief a resignation deal in lieu of prosecution. One trustee confirmed the township was advised by county officials and that the option to resign was presented to the former chief.
Residents also asked about hiring, promotions and compensation practices in the fire department. The current chief said hiring and promotion processes had used interviews and tabulated scores and that the department now operates primarily with hourly employees. The chief said there is a waiting list of people wanting to work for the department and that comp time is not provided.
Trustees and staff said they have implemented steps to protect township funds going forward but did not publicly detail all internal controls during the meeting. No formal personnel actions were taken in open session at the Oct. 27 meeting; trustees later moved to go into executive session to consider public‑employee matters.
