By Allison Manning
The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The chief of a Delaware County fire district has until Monday to submit his resignation or be fired.
Almendinger said he is being asked to leave because of phone calls he made to Berkshire Township trustees about the sale of the township hall. Delaware County officials had looked into buying the soon-to-be-vacated building and using it as an additional EMS station. With the fire district responding to 900 medic calls a year, Almendinger said having an additional EMS station would benefit the area.
“I called all three (trustees) and educated them to what it meant to the citizens of Berkshire and BST&G fire district in general,” Almendinger said. “I ruffled the feathers of one of the trustees,” referring to Robert Carpenter.
Carpenter is Berkshire Township’s representative on the fire board. The other members are Trenton Trustee Kevin Justice, Sunbury Village Councilman Tom Zalewski and Galena Village Councilman Paul Bolander.
Carpenter declined to comment, saying the termination “wasn’t complete yet.”
“When it’s complete, the board will have a letter for anybody who wants it,” he said on Friday.
Justice and Bolander did not return phone messages seeking comment. Zalewski said he will comment this week.
Almendinger said he doesn’t plan to resign.
“If they want to fire me because I’m trying to improve the safety service to the community, I’ll take the thing,” he said.
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