9/3/14 - As far as the Hamburg Township Board is concerned, the matter of complaints against Fire Chief Mark Hogrebe is now closed. The board Tuesday voted 7-0 to take no action on complaints against Township Fire Chief Mark Hogrebe made by three members of the township fire department. The three employees, all of whom are on personal leaves of absence, raised concerns about Hogrebe at a township board personnel committee meeting last week. They included firefighter Andrew Tiefel, who suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, who said that Hogrebeâs behavior toward him was intimidating and claiming he ignored safety concerns in a storage area. At the Tuesday meeting, several firefighters addressed the board in Hogrebeâs defense, stating that the department is better under his leadership and that Hogrebe has improved discipline and accountability, while showing a compassionate side towards firefighters who have undergone stressful situations. Several citizens in the audience also praised Hogrebe. One of them was Al Steinaway, the father of firefighter Michael Steinaway. The senior Steinaway said when his son was electrocuted while fighting a house fire, the chief was at his sonâs side at the hospital. He said further that when his son was called to a run in which a child had died, Hogrebe later visited his house and made several follow-up calls. No one at the meeting had anything negative to say about the fire chief, and all of the 24 letters on his behalf by firefighters were supportive of the chief. Thatâs half of the departmentâs complement of 48 firefighters. After lengthy discussion, the board voted unanimously not to take any action, including that recommended by the personnel committee, which was that the board retain an independent outside investigator. Township Supervisor Pat Hohl tells WHMI that people not satisfied with the boardâs decision still have recourse. Hohl says any the complaining parties have the option of requesting a closed - or open - meeting with the board.(TT)
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