Niles firefighter files legal action seeking to be appointed lieutenant

Staff report

WARREN

A Niles firefighter filed suit in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court seeking to compel the city to promote him to lieutenant in the fire department.

Niles City Council is making plans, however, to eliminate three fire-lieutenant positions to address the city’s financial crisis, which recently resulted in a fiscal emergency designation by the Ohio Auditor’s Office.

Ronald Freel filed the suit Dec. 10, saying he is ranked first on the civil-service list based on his test scores to fill a lieutenant’s position that has been vacant since Aug. 11.

Ohio law requires the city to fill a vacant position within 10 days of the occurrence of the vacancy, the lawsuit says.

Freel seeks to be appointed to the position retroactive to Aug. 11 and to be paid back wages and benefits.

Niles Law Director Terry Dull said at Wednesday’s council meeting that action on legislation to eliminate three lieutenant positions would be delayed until February because of the Freel lawsuit.