Thomas MacMillan File Photos
Attorney Mednick, who’ll represent the chief.
The city could spend up to $50,000 in its efforts to terminate embattled Assistant Fire Chief Pat Egan.
Egan.
The Board of Alders Finance Committee Wednesday night approved a transfer of $40,000 from C‑Med Lawyer/Legal Fees to the Labor Relations contractual services account to hire an attorney to represent Chief Allyn Wright during upcoming proceedings to terminate the suspended assistant chief. City Administrator Michael Carter said that the city was able to take the funds from C‑Med because the city saved a large amount of money by downsizing a staff contract.
Markeshia Ricks Photo
City Administrator Mike Carter and Director of Labor Relations Paca address the Board of Alders Finance Committee.
Office of Labor Relations Director Marcus Paca confirmed that the money is in addition to $10,000 that has already been allocated by the city for fees in the Egan case.
He told alders Wednesday night that the money would pay for an investigator and for legal representation for the chief. “We’re going to be investigating the assistant chief,” he said.
Attorney Steven Mednick said he was retained by the department not to conduct an investigation, but to represent Wright at a yet-to-be scheduled hearing of the Board of Fire Commissioners. The hearing would be called to consider Chief Wright’s recommendation that Egan be terminated.
Chief Wright put Egan on paid administrative leave on Sept. 22 pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct. In a Sept. 22 in a letter Wright wrote to Egan, “You are being recommended for termination.”
Wright has not publicly acknowledged that he was seeking termination of Egan.
Egan has been the focus of protests by numerous groups of firefighters, who complained that he needlessly put their lives at risk at the Aug. 25 fire at Delaney’s Restaurant & Tap Room and that he improperly handled the investigation of a black firefighter who was eventually found guilty of witness-tampering.
Initial information provided to the press indicated that Egan was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, but not recommended for termination. Attempts to reach Chief Wright, Egan, and Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman the Rev. Eldren Morrison were unsuccessful Thursday evening.
Mendick, a former Westville alder, said the city charter requires that there be a disciplinary hearing in “matters of significant disciplinary matters.”
“They brought me on board prior to the hearing to prepare for the case,” he said. “I call it due diligence. It’s not a preliminary investigation.”
Shows you the difference between the private sector and the public sector when a city has to earmark $50,000 for the process of firing someone. It's ridiculous. BTW, is there any expensive process underway to investigate the serious allegations against the chief in connection with, you know, a couple of recruits? Doesn't different treatment by the city based on race just jump out at you here? Especially with the Firebirds pushing city hall on Egan? That aside, I think the city should set aside 5 million dollars cause that's what a jury might award Egan on a race discrimination claim.