Excerpts from MyWebTimes.com:
The Seneca Fire Department board is set to make a major leadership change this Monday night, as it prepares to terminate the long-serving fire chief and appoint a new one.
Chief Jerry Sears confirmed on Monday that he was first made aware of the board's decision to let him go about two weeks ago. According to him, the board had already decided to promote Deputy Chief Kett Johnson to the position of chief.
Sears admitted that the news initially upset him, but he has since come to terms with it. He plans to address the board during the meeting and express his thoughts on the decision. With over 50 years of service in the volunteer department, Sears has been a key figure since joining in 1973 and took on the role of chief in 1984.
Karen Osmond, the department’s administrative assistant, mentioned that the agenda for Monday’s special meeting was announced unexpectedly on Friday afternoon, catching many off guard.
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday at the Seneca Fire Station, located at 121 W. Armour St.
Thanks Dennis
Excerpts from HeraldNews.com:
A longtime fire chief, Jerry Sears, who served for 33 years, was officially removed from his position during Monday’s Seneca Fire Board meeting.
Now 76, Sears joined the department in 1973 and was forced out after a controversial vote. He claims he was not allowed back into the station following the decision.
Sears alleges that two board members met without the third and attempted to pressure him into retiring before the official meeting. He recalls that on June 20, President of Trustees Jerry Johnson visited his home and told him he would be retiring the next day.
Although Sears drafted a resignation letter for the business meeting, he later changed his mind and never submitted it. However, he was ultimately dismissed during the board meeting on July 10 by a 2-1 vote, with Kett Johnson being named the new chief. Johnson says he was approached about the position on June 30.
“He served the department very well. Everything wouldn’t be what it is without him,†Johnson said in a statement.
Sears insists he would have continued serving if given the choice. He believes his age and recent health issues, including heart-related concerns, may have played a role in the decision. He was on medical leave for nearly six months, during which Assistant Chief Jason Bersano temporarily took over.
Karen Osmond, the administrative assistant for the Fire and Ambulance District, noted that the news of Sears’ departure hasn’t fully sunk in among the firefighters yet.
Sears wished his team all the best, while Johnson expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition.
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