Former Chillicothe Fire Chief Bruce Vaughan is appealing his April termination.
The hearing regarding the termination of former Chillicothe Fire Chief Bruce Vaughan was heard by the Civil Service Commission Thursday.
In a trial-like hearing, Assistant Law Director Jim Barrington and Vaughan's attorney traded questioning of firefighters in the situations that led Mayor Jack Everson to fire the chief in April.
Allegations of lax leadership, including a non-functioning fire alarm system at Fire Station #1 since 1996, are part of what Everson pointed to when he was questioned.
The mayor fired Vaughan after Everson was asked about reports of untested air bottles by a Chillicothe Gazette reporter. Three Chillicothe firefighters who went to train in Columbus had to borrow pressurized canisters of breathing air because the ones they brought had not beeen tested when required.
Chief Vaughan guietly answered questions put to him by his attorney, John Camillus, and Assistant Law Director Jim Barrington, in the last stage of the four-hour hearing.
In closing, Barrington pointed out that the April firing was a severe action, but was necessary after insubordination and life-treatening neglect of duties.
Vaughn's attorney said Mayor Everson overreacted based on an issue that previous Mayor Sulzer did not act on, and on apparent personality and leadership conflicts with Everson.
After both parties send written closing statements, the Civil Service Commission will meet again August 9th, and will probably go into executive session to discuss this hearing. They said they might make a decision by the end of August.
hear Chief Vaughan's attorney John Camillus answer reporters' questions
Kevin Coleman regularly reports on Chillicothe and Circleville councils
Chief Vaughan and Mayor Everson face off in a Civil Service hearing
