After about six weeks, Fire Chief Ralph Cobb is still waiting for a decision about his job with
Madison Fire & Rescue Department.
Mayor Troy Trulock placed on Cobb on administrative leave on April 15 after a complaint was filed that
claimed age discrimination during a class, “Generational Differences.” Cobb taught the class in early 2016. On May 23, “The Madison Record” asked Cobb for an update about his situation. “I haven’t heard a word since
last time we communicated,” Cobb said. Cobb was referring to a dialogue with the newspaper on April 22 when
he stated, “I’m confident I’ll be back behind my desk in a few days.”
The city’s human resources (HR) department and the mayor have authority to decide about repercussions from
the complaint against Cobb. City Council is not privy to that confidential information. When HR and Trulock
make a decision, the matter will go to City Council for final action.
At Madison City Council’s meeting on May 24, District 5 Councilman Tommy Overcash asked City Attorney
Kelly Butler and the mayor “for a time frame” about a decision on Cobb’s leave.
“We’d like to say it will be resolved in a month or six months,” Overcash said. “Three city employees (Cobb,
Police Chief Larry Muncey and Officer Eric Parker) are on administrative leave, and that’s all we know as a
council.”