Originally published Oct. 27 on The Berne Witness.
Former firefighter Jasen Kilsby addressed the Geneva Town Council on June 11 asking for documents regarding his dismissal from the Geneva Volunteer Fire Department.
Kilsby was dismissed from the department under disciplinary action on May 2. However, Kilsby said no proper reason was given for his dismissal.
In a four-page letter given to all members of the council, Kilsby shared what he believes is a long-standing history of the department trying to get rid of him. Additionally, Kilsby says the fire department never provided documents regarding his dismissal, which he found to be a contradiction with their bylaws. He said the department told him that city attorney Dave Baumgartner would provide these documents.
“On May 2, I was dismissed from the Geneva Volunteer Fire Department and at my dismissal, Chief Schwartz said I could see the documents at my request from the attorney Dave Baumgartner,” Kilsby said. “At this date and time, 21 business days at minimum have passed and I have received no contact, no email or anything from (the) said attorney.”
Baumgartner responded by saying this was not in his jurisdiction.
“What happens is the town of the Geneva provides the equipment, the building and that kind of thing for this separate entity, so if there’s an issue that has to go through the governmental body of that separate entity,” Baumgartner said.
Kilsby questioned this, saying ultimately the Council controls the department because they fund the department. However, Gary Henderson, council member, countered this by saying it’s not much different than funding one of the youth leagues — they do their own things, but Geneva has an agreement with them that funds them.
Kilsby said the evasion of presenting these documents to him represents the department’s attempt to hide wrongdoing. In his letter, Kilsby shares his belief fire chief Gabe Schwartz turned against him after he became responsible for the State Gaming Board’s investigation into the fire department.
This investigation was prompted by Kilsby’s questioning why the department rejected the first gun raffle winner at its annual Halloween parade and chili supper. Eventually, the State Gaming Board began looking into the matter. According to Kilsby, when his role in the investigation was discovered on April 25, it triggered department heads to turn against him. This led to Kilsby being voted out of the department on May 2.
Other members never provided reasoning for his dismissal during their vote, which Kilsby claims to have recorded on his phone. However, this was not presented during the Council meeting.
Although Schwartz was present during the Council meeting, he did not address the request for documents or the accusations made in Kilsby’s letter. In the meantime, Baumgartner told Kilsby he would read the letter and look into the fire department’s bylaws.
“What they’re saying is that it’s a separate entity, but in the end, the money’s with Geneva Council,” Kilsby said. “I know there are gray areas, but where’s the money? This is highly illegal and it can’t continue."
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