BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT WRIGHT -- A hearing to determine whether the mayor should fire suspended Police Chief Mark Brown has been rescheduled for Wednesday.
The hearing will be at 5 p.m. in Fort Wright council chambers, 409 Kyles Lane. The regularly scheduled council meeting for that night has been canceled.
Until the hearing, lawyers for Chief Brown and the city will continue discussions in hopes of resolving the matter, Mayor Paul Hiltz said.
Fort Wright's three-year police chief faces administrative charges of inefficiency, abusive or obscene language, immoral or improper conduct, and discourtesy to the public or fellow employees. Wednesday, more than 50 people packed Fort Wright Council chambers in hopes of hearing testimony. The subpoenaed witnesses included all 22 full- and part-time city employees.
Chief Brown has been off the job since May 11. He was suspended without pay June 11, when City Administrator Marc Bergman filed administrative charges against the police chief and recommended that the mayor fire him.
However, Mayor Cindy Pinto resigned four days later. June 23, Mr. Hiltz was appointed to replace her.
In Kentucky cities with a mayor-council form of government, the mayor has the sole authority to hire, fire and discipline employees. Both Mrs. Pinto and her successor had sought a hearing to get council's input.
