Seneca Fire Department news

Excerpts from MyWebTimes.com:

The Seneca Fire Department board is set to make a major leadership change this Monday night, with the long-serving fire chief expected to be let go and replaced by a new leader.

Chief Jerry Sears confirmed on Monday afternoon that he was first made aware of the board’s decision to remove him several weeks ago. According to Sears, the board had already planned to promote Deputy Chief Kett Johnson to the position of chief.

When Sears first heard about the news, he said he was disappointed, but he has since come to terms with it. He plans to speak during the meeting and express his thoughts on the matter. Sears has been a dedicated volunteer firefighter since 1973 and served as chief since 1984.

Karen Osmond, the department’s administrative assistant, mentioned that the agenda for Monday's special meeting was released unexpectedly on Friday afternoon.

The fire board will hold its meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday at the Seneca Fire Station, located at 121 W. Armour St.

Thanks Dennis

Excerpts from HeraldNews.com:

A longtime fire chief, Jerry Sears, who served the Seneca Fire Department for 33 years, was officially removed from his position during Monday’s board meeting.

Now 76 years old, Sears joined the department in 1973 and took over as chief in 1984. He now claims he is no longer allowed inside the station. According to Sears, two board members met without the third and attempted to pressure him into retiring before the official meeting.

“The President of Trustees, Jerry Johnson, came to my house on June 20 to tell me I would retire the next day,” Sears said. “I wrote a letter of resignation for the business meeting, but I never actually submitted it.”

Despite this, the board voted 2-1 to remove Sears on July 10, with Kett Johnson named as the new chief. Johnson claims he was approached about the role on June 30.

“He did an amazing job for the department. Everything we have today wouldn’t be possible without him,” Johnson said.

Sears expressed that he would not have retired if it wasn’t necessary. He believes his age and recent heart-related health issues may have played a role in the decision. He was out of work for nearly six months while Assistant Chief Jason Bersano temporarily filled in.

Karen Osmond, the administrative assistant for the Fire and Ambulance District, said the news of Sears’ departure hasn’t fully sunk in with all the firefighters yet.

Despite the change, Sears wishes his team the best and says he will always be proud of his time with the department. Johnson, meanwhile, has pledged to ensure a smooth transition.

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