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Glendale confirms volunteer fire appointments, swears in new firefighters and chiefs
Summary
The Village of Glendale council unanimously passed ordinance 2026-14 to confirm new volunteer firefighters, two division chiefs and two assistant chiefs, then swore in the appointees. Chief Lerman said the hires and promotions strengthen the departmentcommand and EMS capabilities.
The Village of Glendale council unanimously approved ordinance 2026-14 on a voice and roll-call vote, confirming two new volunteer firefighters and promoting several members into the department's leadership, before the council administered oaths to the appointees.
Chief Lerman introduced the candidates and summarized their credentials. "Caitlin Clark is enrolled in the Scarlet Oaks Fire Academy and already holds EMT certification," he said, and added that Joseph Traore had "just passed his national registry EMT and completed his academy at Butler Tech." He also presented promoted division chiefs Dane Feening and Kyle Schwabel and assistant chiefs Charles Solomon and Carter Pittman, noting their combined decades of experience.
The ordinance establishes a one-year probationary period for the volunteers and was advanced to the front of the agenda with a friendly amendment clarifying the titles and sections before council approval. The council then waived three readings and passed the ordinance; the roll call recorded unanimous "aye" votes by the members present.
After the vote, the council conducted a swearing-in ceremony in which the new volunteers and chiefs took the oath to support the U.S. and Ohio constitutions and to "faithfully and impartially discharge" their duties for the Village of Glendale.
The mayor and chief said the new appointments "round out our fire department roster and leadership team," and that the department should be well-positioned for operations going forward.
Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 2026-14 (confirm volunteer firefighters and leaders): passed, voice/roll-call unanimous. - Ordinance 2026-15 (appropriations for legal services): passed, roll-call unanimous. - Ordinance 2026-16 (mayor's court computer fund appropriation): passed, roll-call unanimous. - Ordinance 2026-17 (authorize transit infrastructure grant applications): passed, roll-call unanimous. - Resolution 2026-17 (conditional use at 3 Linden Ave for private pool): passed, roll-call unanimous.
Next steps: the appointed firefighters and chiefs were sworn in the same evening and will begin duties subject to the stated probationary period.
