More than a year after Mingo Junction's fire chief was placed on administrative leave, council voted to reinstate him but the mayor balked at the vote.
The 3-2 vote, with one council member absent from voting, allows former chief Brandon Montgomery to return to his post.
"I'm not bringing him back, so he'll have to go through the legal process," Mayor Judy Ruckman told WTOV9.com. "I followed the process properly, I followed the collective bargaining unit, I followed the employee handbook and I followed Ohio Revised code."
Montgomery was put on leave in July 2024 by Ruckman over alleged sexual misconduct.
"Anybody can make allegations against anybody, but when you don't have the proof of that or the evidence to prove it, I disputed it and I was able to finally be heard," Montgomery said. "It's been a long year and I have not publicly spoke, I do have my attorneys and I'm glad that it came in favor. If that's what was voted upon, then I'm going to try to return to work effective immediately."
Montgomery will be be eligible for back pay based on the council's vote.
