MONROE — After Monroe City Council members decided at their Oct. 21 meeting to create an Ad Hoc Fire Department Investigation Committee to look further into leadership at the Monroe Fire Department, specifically the chief and deputy chief, members were selected and the group officially met Oct. 28. 

Members of the committee now include Kelly Hermanson, who was chosen by council members at the Oct. 21 meeting; Brooke Bauman, chosen by Monroe Fire Chief Dan Smits and Deputy Chief Alan Rufer; and Josh Binger, selected by the firefighters. The council, chiefs and firefighters had until Oct. 25 to select their choice of who would serve. 

The group selected Hermanson as its chair. 

Also in attendance for the committee’s first meeting was City Attorney Dan Bartholf. Bauman said she’s hoping the group can represent the firefighters, the chiefs and the city fairly. 

“I just want to make sure that we’re doing everything legally correct,” Bauman said later. “We need to make sure that legally that everyone is being protected and that the city isn’t doing anything to violate any of those rights.” 

The committee discussed at its meeting that initial steps would be to look at the materials on which the initial report was based, including notes, photos and video. They would then reconvene to discuss claims, potential violations and any gaps in the final report. 

Bauman also brought up the possibility of hiring an outside entity to investigate and report to them. Bartholf said that was an option, but no action was taken. 

Bartholf was part of the initial investigation into the firefighter complaints that took place earlier this year. He and former city administrator Phil Rath completed 50 hours of interviews and “fact gathering” and compiled a report that was delivered to the Salary and Personnel Committee in late September. 

Since then, Rath has resigned. 

That report contained many recommendations for improvement for both chiefs and firefighters, but found that requests from the firefighters for the chief and deputy chief’s resignation or termination were “unsubstantiated.” 

It also concluded that “a majority of ‘claims’ regarding the chief were embellished and overly sensationalized.” Multiple council members felt the report was “biased” and ultimately voted to override its recommendations and investigate the issues raised themselves. 

The next meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 in City Hall Council Chambers.