Ohio Chief Appeals Dismissal

Posted by: Curt Varone August 27, 2018 0

An Ohio fire chief who was fired two weeks ago has filed suit to appeal his termination.

Fire Chief Porter “Chip” Welch filed suit today asking the Pickaway County Common Pleas Court to reverse his removal from the Scioto Township Fire Department. Chief Welch was terminated by the township’s trustees on August 16, 2018.

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Pickaway County Prosecutor Judy Wolford attended an executive session with township trustees, and later informed reporters that [quoting from the Dispatch who summarized Wolford’s statements] “the official reasons trustees listed for the chief’s termination included failure to submit a balanced budget, failure to properly investigate potential misconduct within the fire department, failure to advise trustees of infractions and pending disciplinary actions of appointed firefighters, and failure to let trustees know about meetings and training.”

Chief Welch had been fire chief in Scioto Township since 2005. A copy of the complaint was not available online, and will be provided here if it can be located. More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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