Middleburgh village officials may suspend longtime Fire Chief Brian Devlin after an alleged fight at the fire house after the Fall Festival parade last month.
After an executive session last Monday, village board members agreed, in a 3-2 vote, to suspend Chief Devlin from November 15 through December 15.
Chief Devlin notified Mayor Bill Ansel-McCabe Monday that he was appealing the suspension, and the suspension is pending the appeal.
The motion to suspend Chief Devlin stated that his behavior on October 8 was unacceptable as chief and he was suspended for one month.
A certified letter to Chief Devlin, which went out Saturday, said it had come to the attention of board members that Chief Devlin was involved in a fight at the fire house shortly after the parade on October 8.
An anonymous letter sent to village and town officials detailed the fight and Chief Devlin's alleged involvement.
The letter spoke of Chief Devlin's "hot temper" and "public outbursts.
"One such incident took place as recently as this past weekend (October 8). It was reported that he and his brother (Mike) physically beat up a young man at a fire department function."
The function after the parade was attended by many people including Congressman Paul Tonko and members of other fire departments. The fight was reportedly witnessed by several people.
Chief Devlin declined to comment Monday except to say that he was appealing the suspension.
Mayor Ansel-McCabe, who voted against the suspension, said Monday the action was subject to appeal and Chief Devlin requested a review session which will be set up this week.
"I voted no because I didn't think there was enough information," Mayor Ansel-McCabe said.
"We have to look deeper into this. That's why we're doing this review."
Two board members will meet with the Chief to review the suspension.
Despite the suspension vote, some Middleburgh fire department officials strongly support Chief Devlin.
In a letter dated Sunday, November 13 that was e-mailed to the Times-Journal, an unnamed fire department member detailed the work of fire department members, including Chief Devlin, during and after the August 28 flood.
The member thanked several people for their assistance in the response and added, "Most importantly we want to thank Chief Brian Devlin who led the department through one of the worst incidents ever..."
The Chief, the letter added, established special response teams quickly after the disaster.
"Without Chief Devlin's leadership, none of what we did could have been possible during this disaster."
Village Trustees Matthew Avitabile, Tom Gruning and Butch Ingraham voted in favor of the suspension while Mayor Ansel-McCabe and Trustee Gerald Bowman voted no.