Chief resigns in wake of hearing

Mike Brostowitz officially resigned his position as chief of the Solon Springs Volunteer Fire Department on Thursday following a public hearing in front of the Solon Springs Fire Commission.

Commission members said the resolution was a good one for the community. Now, the former chief’s position is no longer in limbo.

The move also keeps Brostowitz, a volunteer firefighter for 35 years, with the department.

“My heart is in fire service big time,” he said. “I would never let it go.”

Brostowitz has been with the department since 1991, and served as its chief for the last five years.

During the hearing, formal charges against Brostowitz were reviewed. The commission found that he did not perform his duties properly, did not file an accurate report with a state agency, did not voluntarily report that conduct and refused to return equipment to the fire department.

The committee took no action after Brostowitz resigned.

The charges stem from the fact that no fire inspections were conducted at the approximately 60 businesses in Solon Springs in 2008. Yet Brostowitz signed off on a report for the Department of Commerce that stated a substantial number of fire inspections had been done in 2008.

The yearly report is required to receive state fire dues. Brostowitz pointed out that no monies were lost due to his actions and that the Department of Commerce gives the fire department 12 months to come into compliance by doing the necessary inspections.

John Walt has been acting fire chief since June 30, when Brostowitz told his fellow firefighters he would be “sitting on the other side of the table” until the situation was resolved.

Volunteer firefighters will take a vote at their next meeting, Oct. 27, to decide who they want for their new chief. They will bring that recommendation to the Fire Commission at their Nov. 17 meeting unless a special meeting is called.

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