Call it concern for proper procedures and the people of Fredonia, call it election year posturing, or call it some of both: Whatever way you look at it, Monday’s village Board of Trustees meeting was full of disagreement.
One of the biggest points of contention involved Fredonia Fire Department hirings: Dan Aldrich as a lieutenant and the permanent appointment of Ryan Walker as fire chief. Arguments erupted over the procedures for hiring employees, whether Aldrich’s position was budgeted and the probationary periods both Aldrich and Walker have to serve after they are hired.
Trustee Douglas Essek started it off by reading a 2017 board resolution stating that trustees are supposed to know the time and place of interviews for village jobs, as well as have access to applications.
Essek said that was not followed in Aldrich’s case. Instead, “what we have right now is the information, three days before we have to vote,” he said.