BRODHEAD - After meeting on the matter for nearly an hour in closed session Tuesday night, Brodhead's City Council emerged without naming a replacement or interim fire chief. The board was expected to act after last week's vote not to renew Brodhead Fire Chief Jay Bohan's contract that expires later this month.
Last week, the council voted 3-2 in favor of not renewing Bohan's contract.
"We didn't want to put anyone on the spot," said Brodhead City Mayor Doug Pinnow, adding that the council has asked someone to step in as an interim chief, but the candidate, whom he declined to name, hasn't taken the job. "We are trying to come to an agreement with someone and that person hasn't decided yet."
City officials will meet again on the matter July 27, and there are other options. Someone within the fire department could take the interim chief's post if the council's first choice is not met, Pinnow said.
"We want to have a plan if they decline (the position)," Pinnow said.
When discussion of the renewal of Bohan's contract occurred last year, concerns were raised by some firefighters about his performance as the city's first, full-time chief. Two committees last year unanimously recommended against hiring Bohan, but the city council voted, 5-0 last July to renew his contract for a year. Bohan was not present at Tuesday's meeting and could not be immediately reached for comment.
The Brodhead Rural Fire Association pays 40 percent of the fire chief's salary, but the association does not have a vote on who holds the position, a point of contention.
The association's five-year intergovernmental agreement with the city expires at the end of the year, and members have given the city the required six-month's notice prior to non-renewal. The Brodhead Rural Fire Association represents the Brodhead Fire Department's emergency coverage outside of the city limits. Town officials from Avon, Spring Valley and Magnolia in Rock County; and Decatur and Spring Grove in Green County are association members.
Last week, the council voted 3-2 in favor of not renewing Bohan's contract.
"We didn't want to put anyone on the spot," said Brodhead City Mayor Doug Pinnow, adding that the council has asked someone to step in as an interim chief, but the candidate, whom he declined to name, hasn't taken the job. "We are trying to come to an agreement with someone and that person hasn't decided yet."
City officials will meet again on the matter July 27, and there are other options. Someone within the fire department could take the interim chief's post if the council's first choice is not met, Pinnow said.
"We want to have a plan if they decline (the position)," Pinnow said.
When discussion of the renewal of Bohan's contract occurred last year, concerns were raised by some firefighters about his performance as the city's first, full-time chief. Two committees last year unanimously recommended against hiring Bohan, but the city council voted, 5-0 last July to renew his contract for a year. Bohan was not present at Tuesday's meeting and could not be immediately reached for comment.
The Brodhead Rural Fire Association pays 40 percent of the fire chief's salary, but the association does not have a vote on who holds the position, a point of contention.
The association's five-year intergovernmental agreement with the city expires at the end of the year, and members have given the city the required six-month's notice prior to non-renewal. The Brodhead Rural Fire Association represents the Brodhead Fire Department's emergency coverage outside of the city limits. Town officials from Avon, Spring Valley and Magnolia in Rock County; and Decatur and Spring Grove in Green County are association members.