Letter supports fire chief in wake of dismissal report

Colfax city council members have scheduled a special council meeting tonight, Thursday, at 7 p.m. in the wake of a reported city hall move to dismiss Fire Chief Ralph Walter.

City staff and council would not yet say why Walter’s employment was in question or who was in favor of his dismissal.

Councilman J.W. Roberts Tuesday confirmed council members have scheduled the special meeting.

Roberts called in an official notice to the Gazette Tuesday morning, but declined to say the meeting was related to Walter’s employment status.

Councilman David Nails, however, confirmed the topic of the special session involved Walter.

Mayor Norma Becker noted the matter involved a personnel matter, and she was prohibited by law from making any comment. Early Tuesday she said she was not aware of arrangement for the special council session, but council members went ahead with plans for the meeting and she was informed later in the day, according to Roberts.

Copies of a letter in support for Walter have been circulated around town. At least 60 people have signed on, according to a listing submitted with the letter to the Gazette.

The letter in support of Walter said he is a highly qualified and experienced city employee known for being friendly, hard working and extremely competent in his job.

The letter noted Walter, in addition to being well respected in the community, has been recognized throughout the county and state for his extensive knowledge and abilities.

Walter was hired as fire chief after serving for the rural Spokane County fire district which includes the Cheney area. Walter had returned to the Cheney area department after prior service on the department here. One of the highlights of his first stint in Colfax was a working vacation trip he made to New York where he worked with fire crews in the wake of the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center’s twin towers.

He was hired here as chief to fill a post vacated by Carl Thompson who was appointed city administrator by Mayor Becker after the retirement of City Administrator Emily Adams in October of 2006.

Thompson Tuesday also declined to comment the fire chief’s employment status, citing policy on personnel matters.

Among residents signing the letter of support of Walter were David Szambelan and his wife, Sandra. Szambelan, assistant police chief who has tangled with city administration in earlier rounds and headed a move to form a bargaining group for police officers, was the lone city employee to sign the letter.

Council members Jeannette Solimine and Roberts confirmed that they had signed on. Donna Huntwork, spouse of Councilman Tom Huntwork, confirmed that they have both signed on the letter of support.

Councilman Nails said he supported the letter but had not signed it.

Nails said they slated the special meeting tonight because it was his understanding a deadline on the dismissal would be Friday, three days before the city council’s regular Monday night meeting.

The Colfax fire chief’s position is one of the city staff posts under the supervision of the mayor who has the authority as the town’s top administrator to hire or dismiss city employees.