Warsaw Fire Department firefighters Danny Fifer and Terry Himes will be suspended for three duty days beginning Sunday for not following direct orders given by their supervisor.
During Friday's Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, the board approved the recommendation from Warsaw Fire Chief Mike Rice to suspend Fifer and Himes.
Board members Ernie Wiggins and Charlie Smith approved the suspension. Board member Joe Thallemer was absent during Friday's meeting.
The suspension will be for three duty days, beginning Sunday and also will be on Wednesday and Friday.
Rice said he notified Himes and Fifer Monday that they were being suspended after an investigation was conducted and found that they failed to follow direct orders from their supervisor.
When the Times-Union asked Rice what those direct orders were, he declined to comment.
Himes and Fifer have until today at noon to submit a request for a hearing regarding their suspensions.
Fifer began his career at Warsaw Fire Department in January 1978. Himes has been employed at WFD since February 1990.
Both Fifer's and Himes' current bi-weekly wage is $1,915.52.
Their suspension of three duty days amounts to more than $1,000 in lost wages to each employee, according to Jennifer Whitaker, Warsaw human resources director.
In other business, the board approved the city conducting two property appraisals for a new city hall.
The board approved Griffin Real Estate conducting a $5,500 appraisal for 102 S. Buffalo St., the former National City Bank facility, and 117 Center St.
The other contract was for Vern Mitchell and Associates Inc. to perform a $5,000 appraisal of 102 S. Buffalo St. and 117 Center St.
The board, at its Feb. 5 meeting, approved the city entering into a contract to investigate the feasibility of moving its current city hall to a new location.
Warsaw City Hall is currently at 302 E. Market St.
The board also:- Approved a request by Oakwood Cemetery sexton Hal Heagy for the cemetery to purchase a $33,546.04 Bobcat excavator. Money will be appropriated out of the cemetery equipment fund to make the purchase.
- Approved a request from Warsaw Street Department to purchase a 1990 trailer from Selking International for $28,130. The trailer will replace the 1975 trailer that is a safety hazard when loading heavy equipment, according to Street Superintendent Lacy Francis.
- Approved temporary street closure requests from Keith Reinholt, First Friday organizer, to close off Buffalo Street between Main and Center streets, Center Street between Lake and Buffalo streets and Main Street between Lake and Buffalo street for the First Friday event in downtown Warsaw July 2. The event is from 4 to 7 p.m.
- Approved a pay increase for Warsaw Police Department patrol officer Christopher Anderson at $1,410.02 bi-weekly, and a $1,545.50 bi-weekly salary for Paul Heaton, who has completed his probationary status. Heaton will be sworn in at the next BOW meeting.
