Sullivan City fire chief position may be in limbo

Sullivan City Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jesus Martinez’s future in the position became unclear this week after the chief rescinded a resignation letter submitted earlier this month and council failed to discuss or vote on his resignation.

 

 

According to City Manager Richard Ozuna, Martinez submitted a resignation letter to the city on April 15.

 

Monday evening, however, Ozuna says Martinez wrote the city asking to rescind his resignation.

 

Council was already slated to discuss accepting his resignation and possible replacements for him at a special meeting the next day, but not enough council members showed up.

 

Lacking a quorum, the meeting didn’t happen.

 

 

Ozuna said Martinez wrote in the letter that he feels the “department has been left behind,” though he described the resignation on the whole as positive and noted that Martinez, who also serves as a firefighter in Palmview, wanted to stay on as a regular volunteer in Sullivan City.

 

“It was for a smooth transition,” Ozuna said. “It was a good one, it wasn’t on bad terms.”

 

Calls to Martinez from the Progress Times abruptly ended after being answered Tuesday.

 

Via text, Martinez said he was in an area with poor reception.

 

Martinez read but did not respond to subsequent texts and didn’t call back.

 

According to Ozuna, Martinez has continued serving as chief and is anticipated to keep doing so at least until council meets again.

 

Ozuna expects council to revisit the issue next time it meets.

 

“Just to make sure that the board doesn’t have a change of mind. At first he did [resign], and now he didn’t,” he said. “There could be reasons for it. I was gonna present everything, and then whatever they wish upon.”

 

Council is slated to meet Monday evening (today) to discuss the matter.