MONROE — The Monroe Common Council’s Ad Hoc Fire Department Investigation Committee took no action Nov. 7 at its second meeting.

Chair Kelly Hermanson, committee member Brooke Bauman, Mayor Louis Armstrong, city attorney Dan Bartholf and clerk Brittney Rindy met for nearly two and a half hours in closed session, with committee member Josh Binger participating by phone. 

The meeting then reconvened in open session.

“We are still evaluating the information,” said Hermanson, and adjournment soon followed. 

The next meeting of the committee will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19.

On Oct. 28, at the committee’s first meeting, it was decided that members would start by looking at information gathered by Bartholf and former city administrator Phil Rath from their investigation earlier this year. 

The two men completed 50 hours of interviews and “fact gathering” and compiled a report that was delivered to the Salary and Personnel Committee in late September. 

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.