SULLIVAN, OH—The six Sullivan firefighters who were previously placed on "administrative leave" were unanimously reinstated during a special meeting held by Sullivan Township trustees on Friday morning.
"At our last meeting we had two of our mutual aid partners — Spencer and Polk Perry Jackson — come to our meeting and ... seem(ed) to have a lot of concern," said Sullivan Township trustee Duane Jenkins. "We as a board are responsible for making sure our people get the best care. We feel, at this point, being as they voiced those concerns ... that it was prudent to bring those people back."
All six firefighters will be reinstated pending an investigation in the previous allegations of unauthorized tapping of a fire hydrant, making social media posts about the fire department's employers that may have violated the code of conduct and insubordination.
An external investigation is set to be conducted by Jennifer Arnold, though Jenkins did not know how long the investigation would take. Arnold is to be paid $185 per hour.
"With her being an officer of the court and specializing in this area of law, which would be public employment, she could give us her opinion on what should be done," Jenkins said, adding the trustees' "biggest fear" was violating anyone's First Amendment rights.
"Our hands are off of that as far as I'm concerned, and that's why I made the decision too, because I don't want anything to do with it," said fellow Sullivan trustee Glen Goff. "I think it's fair for a person outside to ask those questions (and) find out the answers."
Jenkins said he and the trustees felt there was "far less risk" for the community by reinstating the six firefighters, but that the board still reserved the right to remove anyone who displays misconduct "due to the investigation."
Trustee Doug Campbell — who initially voted against placing the firefighters on administrative leave — expressed his displeasure at the time of the special meeting (8 a.m.), saying he felt it was an intentional attempt to exclude him.
"I am not happy that every time there's an emergency or special meeting, it's held during (morning) hours," Campbell said. "The trustees have always had their meetings in the evenings. So I cannot look at this any other way except that you're trying to exclude me."
Both Jenkins and Goff denied the allegation with Jenkins citing instances in the past where the board met as early at 6 a.m., at noon and on weekends.
"All times of the day we have held meetings and the record reflects that," Jenkins said.
"It's not just you. This takes time out of my day ... this just has to be taken care of," Goff added. "I think as a township trustee, that's one of the things you accept when you accept that job."
Attempts were made by the Times-Gazette to contact several of the Sullivan firefighters, but no contact was made.
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