Spa City chief on paid leave
Complaint filed against head of fire department
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city’s fire chief was put on paid leave Wednesday after the city received a complaint that Chief Joseph Dolan was being paid by another public entity while working for the city.
Commissioner of Public Safety James Montagnino would not say where Dolan was working or how long he will be on leave. He did say the complaint was filed Friday, Jan. 27, but Montagnino would not say who filed the complaint or detail its exact nature.
“There is an alleged conflict,” Montagnino said. “I’m not comfortable giving chapter and verse of the allegations, but he is being paid in two different places at the same time.” Montagnino said it is not the same as having a second job.
As first reported by The Daily Gazette, Dolan’s leave of absence comes after being chief since January 2019. He joined the department, according to his Linkedin page, in September 1998.
The chief’s page on the city’s website indicates he also works as a fire instructor for the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control, which is part of the Office of Homeland Security.
Montagnino said that they put Dolan on leave after consulting with an attorney and the city’s Human Resources office. Dolan will be interviewed Wednesday to determine “if the allegations can be substantiated . ... They will report to me what they discovered,” Montagnino said.
“It’s just an allegation at this point,” but if true, he said, “it’s a serious one.”
According to Seethroughny.net, in 2022, Dolan was paid $134,224 as chief.
Assistant Chief Aaron Dyer is acting as chief during Dolan’s leave. When reached on Friday, Dyer said he could not comment on the matter.