DIFFERING VIEWS — Mingo Junction Village Council member Jodilynn Fitzgerald, front, and Mayor Judy Ruckman paused during a debate Tuesday regarding ongoing personnel issues. -- Christopher Dacanay

MINGO JUNCTION — Mayor Judy Ruckman’s plan to officially terminate Fire Chief Brandon Montgomery’s employment this week was disputed Tuesday by Village Council members who claim it’s a breach of legal protocols.

In a letter Saturday, Ruckman informed Montgomery — who’s been on paid administrative leave since June 13, pending results of a Bureau of Criminal Investigations probe — that his termination would take effect Friday. The letter follows Ruckman’s public reading of charges against Montgomery Jan. 14 and noting her intent to fire him.

Several Village Council members argued against the firing during Tuesday’s regular council meeting, claiming Ruckman ignored necessary steps in the investigation process. Furthermore, council members suggested that the decision to fire or not, by law, rests with council.

Debate over the issue occupied a large portion of the meeting and demonstrated the two sides’ differing interpretations of legal codes, with both sides digging in their heels.

Ruckman has accused Montgomery of “Engaging in inappropriate and unprofessional behavior, specifically engaging in a sexual relationship with a subordinate on municipal property while on duty,” and “Bringing disrepute upon the fire department” and “Illegal audio recording (with) personal cameras” that allegedly constitutes illegal wiretapping.

Council member Jodilynn Fitzgerald said Tuesday that the fire chief position has protections by law. She and council members Pat Cramblett and Adam Peeler said that a hearing must be held with council before the chief’s employment can possibly be terminated.

Ruckman said that neither council nor Montgomery requested a hearing, which she said must be held publicly, though Fitzgerald disagreed with the latter claim. Ruckman challenged council to “have your hearing.”

Earlier in the meeting, council passed emergency legislation confirming former fire department employees Rebecca Perry and Wesley Ostroff — who Ruckman fired July 8 — be reinstated to their previous positions. Council member Patti Mannarino abstained from the vote. Council originally directed the two be reinstated following a three-step grievance process.

Perry and Ostroff’s case has also stirred debate in the council chambers, with Ruckman refusing to reinstate the two, claiming they declined to come to work when given the opportunity — though they had temporary protection orders against another employee at the time.

Perry and Ostroff have filed individual Ohio Civil Rights Commission complaints against the village because of Ruckman’s actions, and Montgomery has filed three of his own, with another feared to be on its way due to the mayor’s termination threat, according to Fitzgerald.

Debate involved Village Solicitor Craig Allen, who called council’s new ordinance “completely unenforceable” and said that Ruckman’s decision effectively finalizes the grievance issue.

Fitzgerald questioned Ruckman’s reasons for the charges against Montgomery, claiming “You can’t just say this stuff,” and whether Ruckman and the village police chief had a warrant allowing them to allegedly detain Montgomery’s personal belongings — a computer and iPad. Fitzgerald also instructed Village Clerk Jay Fabian not to cease issuing payments for Montgomery.

Separately, council approved Village Administrator Darrin Corrigan to enter a contract with energy consulting company Trebel LLC, establishing utility aggregation for village residents for the next three years and locking in rates.

Corrigan said later that utility aggregation allows the village a chance to negotiate more favorable rates for residents, who may opt out of the service initially or at any time during the contract period. Those who do not opt out before the contract start date will be automatically enrolled. Letters describing the program and detailing how to opt out are anticipated to reach residents in mid-March, Corrigan added.

Trebel, which the village has contracted with since 2017 for aggregation, offered the village two options: A one-year program with a locked rate or a three-year program with a locked energy rate for the first year and a different fixed rate each ensuing year.

Corrigan recommended that the village proceed with the three-year program, saying that locking in rates now saves the village from having to renegotiate in another year, when rates may be less favorable.

The electricity rate will be 9.2 cents per kilowatt-hour through June 2026 and 7 cents per kilowatt-hour from July 2026 to June 2028. The gas rate will be 6 cents per 100 cubic feet.

In other business:

• Council scheduled a finance committee meeting for 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 20.

• Council established that all cemetery decorations should be removed by March 10 or they will be discarded.

• Council gave a second reading to an ordinance approving year-end transfers and passed as emergency legislation an ordinance supporting the America 250-Ohio initiative.

• Ruckman reported that she’s pursuing grant opportunities with National Fitness to obtain outdoor fitness equipment for Aracoma Park. She also reported that the village received a $1,000 grant from the Public Entities Pool of Ohio for a bulletproof vest for the police department, and another grant request for service department equipment is expected to return positive.

• Corrigan reported that village employees have repaired water line breaks on Crescent Avenue, Montgomery Lane, the intersection of Benita Drive and Paulman Circle and Penn Avenue. A sewer break was also repaired on Crescent Avenue.

• Police Chief Willie McKenzie III thanked the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department for donating several vehicles to the village, thanked Powers Defensive Tactics for donating an LSI Citadel 12G pump action shotgun for a drawing benefiting the police department’s community fund and invited the public to a free father-daughter dance at the city building from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 19.

• Council heard that the Mingo Junction Senior Center will host euchre games at 6 p.m. on Sunday.