MORTON, Ill. – The Morton Village Board will not reinstate the fire chief, after 25 years on the job.
Mayor Jeff Kaufman removed Fire Chief Joe Kelley from his position on August 29, explaining why at the Board’s September third meeting.
“Number one, he’d established residency outside the Village of Morton, in violation of the Village Code and personnel manual. And, number two, he stopped driving home the village-issued take home vehicle, which is a violation in the Village Personnel Manual,” Kaufman said.
Kelley joined the Morton Fire Department in 1991, and became chief in 1999.
Justin Hale is serving as interim fire chief, and is the mayor’s nominee to be Morton’s next fire chief.
Hale’s nomination will be voted on by the Village Board of Trustees on October 7th.
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