The Board of Deerfield Township Trustees met for an emergency meeting on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 4:00pm with Trustees Ed Dean, Mark Bann and Tiffany Havens present to discuss possible disciplinary action of a Deerfield Township Fire Department member.
Mr. Ed Dean called the meeting to order at 4:00pm and provided a brief description for the meeting. Ed made a motion to exit the special meeting and go into executive session for the reason to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual unless the employee, official, licensee or regulated individual unless they request a public hearing by Division (G)(1) of Section 121.22 of the Revised Code. Tiffany seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Ed made a motion to exit executive session. Tiffany seconded the motion and the roll call was unanimous.
Ed made a motion to enter the public session of our special meeting session. Tiffany seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Mrs. Tiffany Havens indicated the Trustees went into executive session to discuss an allegation that has arisen among members of the Deerfield Fire Department in relation to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. The intention is to hire a 3rd party investigator, who is an attorney from Canton who was a recommendation from OTARMA. He is very qualified and specializes in these types of investigations. One (1) fire member was suspended from the Deerfield Fire Department with pay pending the investigation. No further information will be available until the investigation has been completed.
Mr. Ed Dean made a motion to hire Attorney Leslie Koontz at a rate of $300 per hour to conduct the investigation. Tiffany seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Tiffany indicated that the Trustees are taking this allegation very seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation.
Ed Dean made a motion to adjourn the special meeting. Tiffany seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Meeting adjourned at 4:45pm.