A planned two-day hearing to determine whether Liberty Township's fire chief should be disciplined for alleged management lapses has been extended into next month.
Following 10 hours of testimony on Monday and Tuesday, a third day was needed on Wednesday to hear testimony of three firefighters, a medical adviser for the fire department and a human resources specialist, each testifying to problems with Tim Jensen.
Jensen, chief for six years of the 42-member department and a firefighter there for more than 25 years, has been on paid leave for more than five months while drawing his $90,000 annual salary.
Trustees voted to remove Jensen in March for insubordination-related lapses, inability to discipline his staff and chronic tardiness. But by Ohio law, an outside citizen must review allegations of wrongdoing before formal discipline can occur. Attorney Dougless Duckett is being paid more than $26,000 for his work to conclude that Jensen, "without a major, fundamental and ongoing change of course," is not fit to be in command.
Jensen is permitted the administrative hearing at which the trustees who voted to oust him also act as tribunal or judge.