Holmdel sets hearing dates for fire chief inquiry Mayor, committee to hear testimonies on May 13, 20 BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer HOLMDEL - The Township Committee has set hearings to investigate allegations against theHolmdel Fire Department chief. Closed hearings are scheduled for May 13 and 20 at 7 p.m. in the main meeting room at Town Hall. Individuals will be subpoenaed to give testimony regarding a letter submitted to the townshipApril 3, alleging that Fire Department Chief Thomas Savage lacks the ability to lead the department. According to the resolution adopted at theMay 1 committee meeting, copies of the resolution were to be forwarded to the Fire Department chief, the Fire Company chief and president ofHolmdel Fire CompanyNo. 1 and to the Fire Company chief and president of Holmdel Fire and Rescue Company No. 2." Savage's performance as Fire Department chief came under scrutiny in early April after a letter signed "Members of Holmdel Fire Company No. 1" was submitted to the Township Committee. The letter alleged that Savage was "unfit to command [the] town's firefighters." The resolution states that the primary focus of the investigation is to determine how accurate and severe the allegations in the letter are and findings will later be issued in a report. However, if personnel action is to be taken as a result of the investigation, the resolution states that a separate personnel hearing will be held before the Township Committee. Mayor Serena DiMaso will serve as the chairperson of the investigation committee and, as stated in the resolution, "may issue and execute or direct the issuance of execution, on behalf of the Investigation Committee, such subpoenas as are deemed necessary." DiMaso will be issuing subpoenas. Who will be subpoenaed has yet to be determined. "Initially, the investigative committee will subpoena people from the fire department, and then it really depends on where the trail leads them," Township Attorney Duane Davison, of Lomurro,Davison, Eastman, and Muñoz, said in a later interview. "Basically, all the township wants to do is make sure that the people responding to fires in town are doing the best job possible." The township's resolution states that "the Township Committee has the authority pursuant to NJSA 40:48-25 to appoint a committee of its members to conduct an investigation into any subject or matter within its jurisdiction and in so doing, may issue subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena deuces tecum to any person within this State, to appear before it to give testimony or to provide information and documents as required." According to Davison, "subpoena ad testificandum" requires individuals subpoenaed to appear before the committee and to testify about the matter. Davison explained that "subpoena deuces tecum" requires subpoenaed individuals to appear before the committee, give testimony and provide documentation. The letter written by "Members of Holmdel Fire Company No. 1" alleged that Savage directs firefighting responsewithout 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." When asked if he had read the letter and if he had any comment, Savage declined to do so following the executive session prior to the April 17 committee meeting. "I am going to let the township handle it," he said. "I really don't feel comfortable commenting on that [letter]; however, I did ask for an investigation into the matter." Savage, a school crisis counselor,was appointed fire chief by the Township Committee in January 2007. He said he has been a firefighter in Holmdel and Colts Neck for the past 18 years. Savage's firefighter's qualifications seem to be up to date. According to Monmouth County Fire Academy Training Officer William Itinger, "Fire chiefs in the state of New Jerseymust 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 ConsumerAffairs said lastmonth that Savage is in compliance with these regulations. Erin Stattel can be contacted at estattel@ gmnews.com.