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Captain awaits driving record
NEW SPRINGFIELD
Although Ted Mason was reinstated as a Springfield Township first captain of the EMS service, paramedic and firefighter in February, he will not be allowed to drive an ambulance or other township vehicle until his “driver’s abstract” meets township rules.
Officials said driver’s abstract refers to his driving record.
Mason, a physician’s assistant who has been a township firefighter and EMS team member for 20 years, was placed on investigatory suspension by Springfield Township trustees in May 2011 without explanation. He was reinstated to his previous post Feb. 8.
The mediation settlement agreement on the matter has since been released from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Cleveland field office. It states, “Mr. Mason will be in a nondriving status concerning township vehicles until his driver’s abstract is in compliance with the township’s ... driver policy.”
The settlement sheds little light on the reasons for Mason’s suspension, which lasted from May 2011 until February 2012. Several paragraphs of the settlement agreement were blacked out in the released document, with a notation that the agreement was “redacted according to ORC 149.43A.” This section of the Ohio Revised Code pertains to confidentiality of medical records.
The handwritten settlement statement also states that within 30 to 60 days, the township will update township policies in that “all township employees will be required to notify the fiscal officer in writing of any medical condition or change in medical condition that affects their ability to perform their job duties.” Also, the settlement states, “No later than Jan. 31 of each year, all township employees will be required to submit a copy of their driver’s license and insurance certificate to the Township Fiscal Officer.”
Both the trustees and Mason declined to comment on the agreement, stating that they are prohibited from doing so by its terms.
Struthers Municipal Court lists Mason as having convictions for four traffic violations. He pleaded no contest Feb. 2, 2011, to reckless operation and was fined $25 and costs.
Mason also pleaded no contest June 18, 2010, and Nov. 3, 2010, to two separate charges of failure to control and was fined $20 and costs for each. In addition, he pleaded no contest to a stop-sign violation Sept. 9, 2010, and was fined $25 and costs.
EMS Chief Karen Philibin has stated in the past that nondriving status is not a problem with EMS personnel since there must always be two EMS members on ambulance calls.