Panel to rule soon on appeal over fire chief's suspension
Safety forces said city records showed the property was not in the city.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- The city's Civil Service Commission says it will rule within 10 days on whether Fire Chief Walt Greenamyer was properly suspended for three days without pay.
Greenamyer told the commission Tuesday he had appealed to get his pay for the three days he was suspended.
Safety Director Scott Cranmer imposed the suspension because the fire department didn't respond to a pole barn fire at 1648 N. Lincoln Ave. on June 17. The property had been in Perry Township, but was annexed to the city last year. Township firefighters eventually responded to the blaze.
Cranmer said he told the chief to discipline those who did not respond. Greenamyer, who was out of town on the day of the fire, did not.
Cranmer said he believed the chief had broken department rules that say the department should respond even if firefighters think a fire is outside the city limits. Greenamyer said the rules also say the department is to protect the city.
Confusion
Council had approved the annexation on Sept. 6, 2005. Cranmer said city zoning officer Patrick Morrissey said he had notified various city departments of the annexation the next day. Cranmer said he could not confirm that.
Two firefighters on duty the night of the fire told the commission the fire department's master map of the city limits did not show the annexation. Police Sgt. John Less said that night the police department master map of the city limits did not show the annexation. Less told the commission that a Perry Township police officer that night also believed the property was in Perry Township.
City safety workers said Morrissey gave them information about the annexation two days after the fire.
wilkinson@vindy.com