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Accusations fly in Mingo Junction special meeting

DEBATE — Mingo Junction Councilwoman Jodilynn Fitzgerald, right, pulled up information on her phone for Cathy Stoddart regarding the village’s handling of public notices for its Monday special meeting. -- Christopher Dacanay

MINGO JUNCTION — Accusations flew across the bar in Mingo Junction’s council chambers during a special meeting of Village Council on Monday that saw a handful of disgruntled fire department employees and some civilians speak their mind.

All six Mingo Junction Village Council members attended the meeting to discuss collective bargaining arrangements and personnel employment. Council called the meeting to discuss a letter it received on Friday from the International Association of Fire Fighters, demanding corrective action for two former Mingo Junction Fire Department employees and the current chief.

However, proceedings soon spiraled out of control when several individuals voiced their opinions, demonstrating a clear disconnect between firefighters who feel marginalized and council members who feel they’re doing everything they can to resolve the issues at hand.

A labor union representing fulltime firefighters and EMS personnel, the IAFF in its letter demands corrective action be taken regarding the situations of former Mingo Junction Fire Department employees Rebecca Perry and Wesley Ostroff, as well as Fire Chief Brandon Montgomery.

Ruckman terminated Ostroff and Perry’s employment July 8 after they supposedly violated the fire department collective bargaining agreement’s five-day no-call, no-show stipulation. The two had temporary protection orders against Assistant Chief Nick Moore at the time.

DEBATE — Mingo Junction Councilwoman Jodilynn Fitzgerald, right, pulled up information on her phone for Cathy Stoddart regarding the village’s handling of public notices for its Monday special meeting. -- Christopher Dacanay

Perry and Ostroff followed a three-step grievance process outlined in the fire department’s collective bargaining agreement, culminating in village council voting in August that the two be reinstated. Ruckman has refused to allow that, claiming she gave them numerous opportunities to return, which they did not do. This has led to a months-long deadlock between council and Ruckman’s opposing wishes.

Meanwhile, Montgomery has been under investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations since June 13 for alleged misconduct. He was placed on paid leave immediately after the investigation launched and has remained there to date.

The IAFF claims that Ruckman’s refusal to reinstate the three constitutes a “direct and continuing breach of the village’s contractual obligations under the party’s collective bargaining agreement.”

“Given these serious violations of law,” the letter reads, “we demand Ruckman take immediate corrective action, and reinstate Ostroff, Perry and Vice President Montgomery with full back pay and restoration of seniority and benefits by Dec. 24.”

First of the public to speak up was village resident Cathy Stoddart, who claimed council’s meeting was illegal because the public was not given notice of the exact topics to be discussed, as per Ohio Revised Code. Stoddart further claimed that the village did post a notice but edited it after publication, when it should have retracted the original and issued a new notice.

Councilman Adam Peeler later claimed that the village can make additions to notices regarding the full breadth of its discussions.

Following that debate, Mingo Junction Councilwoman Jodilynn Fitzgerald stated that council would enter executive session to have its discussion, but EMS Lt. Cait Givens interjected, claiming that council should stop “hiding” behind closed doors on this topic.

“I don’t think you need to go into executive session about this,” Givens said. “Since we’re all here because you want to discuss personnel issues that obviously have to do with the fire department — because what other personnel issues do we have at this current moment? I think we should discuss this, instead of you just hiding in your executive session with nobody else here.”

Council prepared to exit and hold the executive session downstairs, until part-time fire department employee Blaine Babel stated that it “doesn’t seem like” council knows who these discussions are affecting.

Councilwoman Patti Mannarino asked for Babel’s name for the record, and Fitzgerald commented that Babel is “the newer guy.” Capt. Art Fowler then interjected, claiming Fitzgerald’s comment was an “unnecessary statement” and saying that Babel should not face retaliation for speaking up.

Councilman Mark Baker said he respects what the department does and apologized that the issue at hand has affected the department and the village. Furthermore, he said that he and the village would like to “move on and get past” the whole issue by following correct procedures.

Regarding the ongoing BCI investigation, Baker said the village hasn’t “heard a word.” Givens claimed council members do not “realize the repercussions” of the investigation because it doesn’t personally affect them.

Babel claimed council treats fire department employees like “garbage.” Fellow employee Adelaide Shaw compounded that accusation, claiming council does not stick up for current employees but defends the two former employees and chief who’s on leave.

After 20 minutes of back and forth, council headed downstairs to address the letter. The six returned more than a half hour later with some words from Councilman Adam Peeler on their behalf.

“As a result of the third step in the grievance process, council voted unanimously to bring (Ostroff and Perry) back to work,” Peeler said. “That was our vote, and that’s where we step out of that process. Now, it’s on whoever carries the contracts through and keeps business moving in this village to make sure that that’s upheld, that decision. It just hasn’t been, up to this point, but that was our vote and our ruling on that grievance several months back.”

Regarding Montgomery’s situation, Peeler said that council members have “sat back and haven’t said anything either way” while BCI investigates. Based on its final ruling, he added, council will reconvene to discuss what ought to be done.

Peeler also said it “pains” him that fire department employees feel they’re treated like garbage, and he encouraged employees with questions or concerns to reach out to council.

Debate resumed and escalated until Mannarino stated that this meeting was not the appropriate venue for airing such concerns. She suggested that a separate meeting be scheduled for talks to continue.

Councilman Jack Brettell said similarly but told fire department employees to write down their thoughts and have a spokesperson present them to maintain order.

Arguments continued afterward, with former Fire Chief John Wright pointing to the fact that the department currently has no paramedics. A comment from Fitzgerald — reportedly made in jest — that Perry and Ostroff are currently pursuing paramedic education was met with ire from the crowd. Soon after, Wright characterized this makeup of council as “the worst administration I’ve ever dealt with in 30 years.”

A half hour after returning to regular session, council voted to adjourn the meeting. Council will not meet again in regular session until 7 p.m. on Jan. 14.

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