Nov. 20--SWANSEA -- A volunteer firefighter will not be disciplined for a "vulgar" comment made on the social media site Facebook.
The post, which Trustee Susan O'Malley described as "vulgar" and "offensive," has since been taken down at the request of Fire Chief John McGuire.
During Monday's meeting of the Swansea Village Board's personnel committee, Mayor Jim Rauckman said discipline of the firefighter, Kody Koudelka, is at the discretion of the fire chief.
McGuire said Koudelka was not disciplined, because he didn't violate a village policy.
An amendment to the employee handbook, which the Village Board passed in July and regards acceptable use of technology, does not apply to members of the police and fire department.
"I don't agree with what he put, but I can't discipline someone because of something that they said," McGuire said.
Koudelka took "a lot of heat" from his fellow firefighters over the post he made on Facebook, according to McGuire.
"He's definitely learned his lesson," McGuire said of Koudelka. "I'm confident it won't happen again."
At least one trustee was not pleased with the chief's decision.
"I am personally disappointed our chief decided this sort of behavior is acceptable and no discipline was taken," said Trustee Susan Schultz.
Rauckman initially brought Koudelka's post to the board's attention during the personnel committee meeting Nov. 5. At that time, Rauckman said "some level of discipline" should be taken against Koudelka.
Last Monday, Rauckman's family home in Swansea caught fire, and Swansea firefighters battled the fire for several hours. The family's cat was saved by Koudelka.
Following committee meetings Monday night, the Village Board rescinded approval for the Willow Walk Phase 2 final plat.
According to the village, the owner Tamar Development has never completed the streets, sewers and other public improvements as depicted in the final plat for Willow Walk Estates Subdivision, approved by the board in July 2006.
The board also accepted the resignation of Dean Kreher from his position on the Business District Development and Redevelopment Commission.
Contact reporter Jamie Forsythe at 239-2562 or [email protected].
Copyright 2012 - Belleville News-Democrat
