Decision on fire chief leave expected shortly

A decision on whether fire Chief Lorne Thompson will come back from his current leave or whether town of Olds chief operating officer Scott Chant will continue as acting fire chief is expected to be made in the coming days.

That's the word from Pat Vincent, the town's interim chief administrative officer.

Thompson was given compassionate leave to deal with a family health issue in early January. That leave was later extended and is due to expire March 13.

"We'll review the situation before then," Vincent says. I'll probably have a meeting with Mr. Thompson to be briefed – to get up to date with what that current situation is and then make a decision (on) what would be in the best interest of the town and for the employee, given what the circumstances are and what information that I get at that particular time."

Chant is a captain with the Olds Fire Department, not a deputy fire chief.

Vincent says the decision was made to make him acting fire chief because "both of the deputy chiefs have full-time jobs out of town, and so it would be inappropriate and inconvenient to ask them to assume a second full-time position. That would jeopardize their own careers and jobs."

Vincent was asked if serving as acting fire chief is impacting Chant's job as a COO with the town.

"Well, at the present time, I'm monitoring the situation. It's a great question; that was a question that council asked of myself as well and I'll continue to look at the situation," Vincent says.

"Thus far, he's capably handled the great responsibilities of his current position and that of the acting fire chief.

"But I'm sensitive to the issue that if his regular duties are going to be compromised or start slipping, then I need to make a decision about changing that particular situation immediately."