By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• The Loveland Fire Rescue Authority Board voted to proceed with the process to potentially terminate Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach.
• A personnel committee will draft a letter of intent to terminate that will be considered at a special board meeting Thursday.
• Sendelbach was placed on paid administrative leave Jan. 28 amid ongoing disagreements with the board.
• Assistant Chief Greg Ward was appointed acting fire chief during Sendelbach’s leave.
• Firefighters, union leaders and some community members spoke in support of Sendelbach at the meeting.
LOVELAND, CO — The Loveland Fire Rescue Authority Board voted Monday to continue the process that could lead to the termination of Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach, officials said.
In an online special meeting, board members approved asking the authority’s personnel committee — composed of Board Chairman Jeff Swanty and Loveland City Manager Jim Thompson — to prepare a letter of intent outlining reasons to terminate Sendelbach, which the full board will consider at a special meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Sendelbach was placed on paid administrative leave on Jan. 28 amid ongoing disagreements with the board over organizational matters, including long-standing disputes about the authority’s funding model, officials said.
At Monday’s meeting, the board ratified previous personnel decisions, appointed Assistant Chief Greg Ward as temporary fire chief and discussed a possible 10% pay increase for Ward if he remains in the acting role for more than two weeks.
Nearly 300 attendees participated in the meeting, during which firefighters, union representatives and community members spoke in support of Sendelbach and urged transparency in the process.
Under the authority’s employment agreement, after the Thursday meeting the board is expected to formally present the letter of intent to Sendelbach and then hold a public vote on his termination.