If you’re eagerly awaiting the announcement of a new fire chief for Oxford Township, you’ll have to wait a little longer.
Supervisor Bill Dunn said he wanted to delay making a decision on Pete Scholz as the possible new fire chief because the board hadn’t had a chance to discuss a letter from the Oxford Village council in which the council requested that the township trustees have a ‘full and open interview process? for the fire chief position and to include the village on any decisions.
‘A full and formal selection process will be in the best interest of the residents and fully comply with the legal requirements for filling the position,? Village manager Joe Young wrote in the letter.
Scholz, who currently serves as deputy fire chief for the township, received positive remarks from some of the trustees at the meeting regarding the possibility of his becoming the next chief.
The current chief, Jack LeRoy, is set to retire on November 1.
Last month, the board of trustees voted 6-1 to enter into negotiations with Scholz, an Oxford native, with supervisor Bill Dunn casting the lone dissenting vote. Dunn had told The Oxford Leader that the quick decision wasn’t allowing him the chance to do his job as supervisor, and that he wanted to exercise ‘due diligence? by talking to people Scholz has worked with.
Dunn added that he and township treasurer Joe Ferrari had been talking to different departments, community staff members and other fire chiefs to get input on Scholz? capabilities. He said he has not completed his due diligence yet.
‘I needed direction from the board which way to go, so I did not want to spend the money to have the contract turned over to the attorney,? he said.
The township has begun entering into negotiations with Scholz, but Dunn wants to hold off on sending the contract to the attorney until the board has a chance to see it first.
Trustees Susan Bellairs and Patricia Fitchena both stated they felt that Scholz was the right choice for the position. Fellow trustee Doleen Behnke said she felt no need to table the issue.
‘I’ve never heard anything negative about Pete,? she said.