By Sharla Steinman
Loveland Reporter-Herald
LOVELAND, Colo. — Loveland’s fire chief told the agency’s board Wednesday that he has no intention of resigning, he said.
Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach said he was given until 4 p.m. Wednesday to let the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority board know if he was going to resign or face the termination process; he said he told the board he did not plan on resigning.
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“I stand strong,” Sendelbach said. “I would not let this community or firefighters put their name out there on my behalf if I felt like there was something that was going to embarrass this organization or this community.”
Sendelbach was placed on administrative leave Jan. 28 by the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority board after a regularly scheduled board meeting. During the meeting, a closed executive session took place, and Loveland Rural Fire Protection District Board Chairman Jeff Swanty and Loveland City Manager Jim Thompson were appointed to a two-member personnel committee.
The board has not publicly explained why Sendelbach was placed on leave.
“There’s no justifiable cause that I can possibly think of, aside the fact that (we have) two different personalities,” Sendelbach said.
Mayor Pat McFall, who also serves on the agency’s board, previously said that the situation did not emerge suddenly and noted disagreements that have been visible in past board meetings. He mentioned a long-standing tension over the agency’s 80-20 funding split between the city and the rural fire district.
“My feelings are that we shouldn’t be here,” Sendelbach said. “You discuss differences and you take corrective action and create an environment that is conducive for constructive criticism and professionalism. You don’t go this route. That is my personal opinion and I am always open to other ideas.”
Sendelbach explained that the board will have to present him with a cause for termination, per his contract, adding that this has not yet been shared with him. He said he will then have an opportunity to put together and present his own appeal to the board in a closed executive session. The board will then submit a recommendation to reinstate or terminate Sendelbach and will have to publicly vote on the decision in a meeting, he said.
Sendelbach added that no timeline has been discussed with the board yet.
I don’t even know what I’ve been accused of yet, Sendelbach said.
His department-issued vehicle and computer were retrieved by LFRA employees Jan. 29, he said.
“LFRA employees had to come retrieve my vehicle,” he said, adding that he felt the decision was extreme because he is on paid administrative leave.
Sendelbach said that one of his biggest takeaways from the last week is the importance of taking care of people.
“Understandably sometimes you have to make hard decisions, but there’s a way to treat people through a process,” he said. “And take care of them as you would anybody else.”
Swanty referred inquiries to the board’s attorney, who has not responded to multiple requests for information.
He said the support from firefighters, who joined together in a letter in support of the chief and of no confidence to the board, and the community, has made him feel humbled.
“I (want to) express my sincere thanks to the community,” Sendelbach said, struggling to speak because he was beginning to get emotional. “That’s the best I can conclude it to — to the firefighters and the community.”
Tracey Powell, a resident of the rural district who lives near Pinewood Reservoir, said that although she has never considered herself an activist, she supports the chief because of the dedication he has shown to her community.
“We’re going to fight and we’re going to keep going with our plan to get him reinstated,” she said, adding that she and other community members plan on speaking at the Loveland Rural Fire Protection District Board meeting Feb. 11 . “… If it (public comment) takes forever, it’s going to take forever …”
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