Holmdel fire chief comes under fire Members of Fire Company No. 1 charge breach of duty BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer The conduct of the Holmdel fire chief as overseer of the township's fire personnel will be discussed during an executive session at Thursday's Township Committee meeting. The township's Public Safety Commission met in special sessions on April 11 and 12 to discuss allegations made about Fire Chief Thomas Savage in a letter from several members of Holmdel Fire Company No. 1. Members of the fire company submitted a letter to the Township Committee on April 3, but the letter does not specifically name those who submitted the letter. "The meeting consisted of members from the Public Safety Commission, and we discussed the issues that resulted from the presentation from members of Fire Company No. 1 regarding Mr. Savage's capabilities as fire chief," confirmed Township Administrator and Chief Financial Officer Joseph Annecharico Monday. "Both meetings were about the same subject, and we are coordinating oversight of fire services and emergency response services with our police department temporarily." As fire chief in Holmdel, Savage oversees two volunteer fire companies with three fire stations. Commenting on reports that Savage had resigned on Monday, Annecharico said that Savage's status with the town was still unclear at that time and the matter would be discussed with the township attorney and Savage at Thursday's executive session meeting. The three-page letter describes Savage as "unfit to command [the] town's firefighters." The letter, signed by "Holmdel Fire Company 1 members," also alleges that Savage directs firefighting response without being on the scene. "Chief Savage has a bad habit of giving orders over the radio when he has not yet arrived on scene, or when he is still at his house," the letter states. Also, the firefighters allege that requests for replacement of damaged equipment have gone unanswered. "Over three months ago, a request was put in for members to have gear replaced because of tears, rips or not fitting properly. Nothing has been done about this. Holmdel Fire Company No. 1 has firefighters and officers whose pagers are outdated, broken and barely operable." In addition, the letter charges that decisions by Savage have compromised the fire companies' ability to respond to fires. "Within the past few weeks, Mr. Savage insisted that all the town's ground ladders be removed from the fire trucks and dropped off at the Centerville Road fire station, where they would be tested the following morning, and upon completion, the fire companies would respectively drive to the station and pick them up. "This plan would leave the town without ground ladders and unprotected for a full day." Although alternative plans were proposed, Savage ignored them, the letter states. Savage was unavailable for comment on Monday. "We have had meetings with Tom Savage and Fire Company No. 1 before, and I have never had any direct complaints about him," said Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMaso Monday. "There have been complaints about how the fire companies are run, but never about him." Members from Fire Company No. 1 who made the letter public were also critical of the way in which Savage appropriates fire department funds, allegedly favoring his own Fire Company No. 2. Annecharico said that he was not aware of any mismanagement of funds, because the fire department has to go through the municipality for purchase orders for any expenditures needed. The letter also alleges that although Savage is aware that a member of Fire Company No. 2 damaged a ladder truck and residential properties while attending fire calls, the firefighter was allowed to continue to operate equipment after Savage was made aware of his record. However, according to the Holmdel Police Department, no accident reports were filed about the alleged incidents. Savage's firefighter's qualifications appear to be up to date. According to Monmouth County Fire Academy Training OfficerWilliam Itinger, "Fire chiefs in the state of New Jersey must be compliant with the Incident Command System and Firefighter 1 certification." Itinger said the state does not mandate updates for firefighters except for training instructors. A spokesman for the state Division of Fire Safety and the Department of Consumer Affairs said Monday that Savage is in compliance with these regulations. Savage was appointed to his post as fire chief in January 2007 by the Township Committee and is not a paid employee of the town. He is provided with a township vehicle. Erin Stattel can be reached at estattel@ gmnews.com.