SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WLIO) - It was a full house at the Shawnee Township Trustees meeting following last month’s announcement that the fire department’s leader was placed on leave.
On May 30, Shawnee Fire Chief Austin Miller was placed on paid administrative leave by the township’s trustees. According to Miller’s public file, there is a Group 2 infraction with a written reprimand. The reprimand stems from an alleged violation of a policy regarding the use of a township-owned vehicle controlled by a department head. Miller reportedly did not consult nor get trustee approval. The report stated the vehicle was used for a training exercise in Dayton. At Monday night’s meeting, some residents raised questions about Miller’s leave.
“If our chief took multiple firefighters to a training altogether, which in time save on gas and money I would think and learn from a training that could be used to help the people in our community. It also states that a township-owned vehicle is to be controlled by the department head. If the fire chief is not considered the department head, who is? So, with that, who decides what or who is being insubordinate and who decides what level these insubordinate charges are?” Mindy Molaski questioned the Shawnee Township Board of Trustees.
After the meeting, Your News Now attempted to ask the Shawnee Township Board of Trustees questions regarding the investigation and its details, but they declined to answer, saying they could not provide details because the investigation is ongoing.
