Update: Webster May Form Merit Board For Fire, EMS
August 30, 2016 at 4:47 p.m.
By Dan [email protected]
A proposal to establish a merit board will be presented to the Tippecanoe Township Advisory Board next month.
A merit board would help resolve tensions over how to handle disciplinary issues within the fire and EMS department, said Chris Francis, battalion chief and advisory board member for Tippecanoe Township.
Francis issued a statement on behalf of the fire department on Monday saying Township Trustee Steve Ward and fire officials had agreed to make several changes.
Francis also said they are working on improving communication between the township entities.
Officials will have two weeks before the plans are discussed in public. No other public meetings are planned until Sept. 13 when the advisory board holds its next regular meeting.
Monday’s statement appeared to be a step in the right direction in resolving the rift. Francis called the progress as “baby steps.”
Francis said last week’s labor action was the result of frustration and an attempt to prove a point and “show support” for the Fire Chief Jeremy Likens.
Likens has voiced concern with what he calls the micromanaging of fire and EMS issues by Ward.
Likens requested time off as officials investigate concerns.
Neither Ward nor Likens returned phone calls requesting a clarification on his work status.
Last Thursday’s decision by half of the fire and EMS personnel to walk off the job led to an immediate request for surrounding fire departments to be on standby in case a fire or medical emergency arose in Tippecanoe Township.
That added coverage continued until mid-morning Monday, even though a handful of personnel had not returned as of Monday afternoon.
Monday’s statement by the fire department included a sense of appreciation for surrounding fire departments that stepped up during the crisis.
Departments that provided standby support included Pierceton, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, Plain Township, Milford, Turkey Creek Fire Territory as well as North Webster’s Police Department and the sheriff’s departments of Kosciusko and Noble counties.
Monday’s statement also tried to reassure residents and tourists.
“First and foremost, we would like to ensure the residents and guests of Tippecanoe Township that your safety has and always will be our unconditional concern,” the release said.
Francis pointed out that while the department was without a full staff, they were never “shut down.”
“We all know that if something major happened, these guys would have been there,” Francis said.
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A proposal to establish a merit board will be presented to the Tippecanoe Township Advisory Board next month.
A merit board would help resolve tensions over how to handle disciplinary issues within the fire and EMS department, said Chris Francis, battalion chief and advisory board member for Tippecanoe Township.
Francis issued a statement on behalf of the fire department on Monday saying Township Trustee Steve Ward and fire officials had agreed to make several changes.
Francis also said they are working on improving communication between the township entities.
Officials will have two weeks before the plans are discussed in public. No other public meetings are planned until Sept. 13 when the advisory board holds its next regular meeting.
Monday’s statement appeared to be a step in the right direction in resolving the rift. Francis called the progress as “baby steps.”
Francis said last week’s labor action was the result of frustration and an attempt to prove a point and “show support” for the Fire Chief Jeremy Likens.
Likens has voiced concern with what he calls the micromanaging of fire and EMS issues by Ward.
Likens requested time off as officials investigate concerns.
Neither Ward nor Likens returned phone calls requesting a clarification on his work status.
Last Thursday’s decision by half of the fire and EMS personnel to walk off the job led to an immediate request for surrounding fire departments to be on standby in case a fire or medical emergency arose in Tippecanoe Township.
That added coverage continued until mid-morning Monday, even though a handful of personnel had not returned as of Monday afternoon.
Monday’s statement by the fire department included a sense of appreciation for surrounding fire departments that stepped up during the crisis.
Departments that provided standby support included Pierceton, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, Plain Township, Milford, Turkey Creek Fire Territory as well as North Webster’s Police Department and the sheriff’s departments of Kosciusko and Noble counties.
Monday’s statement also tried to reassure residents and tourists.
“First and foremost, we would like to ensure the residents and guests of Tippecanoe Township that your safety has and always will be our unconditional concern,” the release said.
Francis pointed out that while the department was without a full staff, they were never “shut down.”
“We all know that if something major happened, these guys would have been there,” Francis said.
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