• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Brodhead fire chief’s fate unknown

BRODHEAD — The Brodhead City Council considered whether to renew Fire Chief Jay Bohan’s annual contract Monday night, but the result was not immediately known.

Council members could not be reached before the Gazette’s deadline. Indications were that the meeting continued after 10:15 p.m.

Bohan’s contract expires at the end of this month.

The personnel committee recommended the council not renew Bohan’s contract. The committee voted, 4-2, on the recommendation Friday night after a closed session discussion, committee member Ann-Marie Elmer said.

The committee also acknowledged receiving the fire oversight and public safety committees’ performance review of Bohan, she said. The report included a recommendation to renew Bohan’s contract, but it was based only on the job review, she said.

The personnel committee’s recommendation “involved a lot more facets than just that,” she said.

Renewal of Bohan’s contract was a contentious issue last year when some firefighters raised concerns to city officials about his performance as the city’s first full-time chief.

A consultant was hired to sort through the issues, but the consultant’s report didn’t directly address concerns raised by firefighters.

Two committees last year unanimously recommended against rehiring Bohan, but the city council voted, 5-0, last July to renew his contract until July 27, 2011.

Since then, the fire oversight committee was formed and worked with Bohan and department trustees to write standard operating procedures, guidelines and job descriptions.

Elmer said some discontent remains, but she credited the fire oversight committee for its work in writing procedures and guidelines.