Trustees name Gebhardt interim fire chief

NEW SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Township trustees appointed Fire Department 1st Capt. Matt Gebhardt as interim fire chief for the rest of this year to replace Brian Hughes, who resigned.

The trustees took the action after accepting Hughes’ resignation at their meeting earlier this week.

Gebhardt will be paid $750 per month for the part-time position. He will have a $50 monthly cell phone stipend and be paid mileage.

Gebhardt served as interim fire chief during Hughes’ 90-day suspension, which began Nov. 1 after Hughes was found guilty by trustees of several charges in an April 2005 training exercise at a Garfield Road barn fire, which Hughes had called in to the 911 center as an emergency.

Trustees also promoted part-time police officer Glenn Corey to full time effective Sunday. He will be paid the police contract rate of $13.79 an hour.