Fire chief resigns, citing health issues
Snively, a 26-year veteran, calls it quits after three months.
After three FRANKLIN TWP. — months on the job, Franklin Twp. Fire Chief Tom Snively resigned his part-time post citing health reasons.
“Unfortunately, due to recent medical issues with both my wife and I and the obligations of my full-time employment I am unable to dedicate the time the Fire Chief positions requires,” Snively wrote in his resignation letter obtained by the Journal-News.
“Over the last few months it has been a pleasure to serve the community of Franklin Township. As I have said in private and public; the township should be very proud of the firefighters whom serve this community. I have found the firefighters to be professional, competent and more importantly compassionate,” Snively wrote in his resignation letter.
Township Administrator Traci Stivers said the resignation, which took effect Nov. 6, was “abrupt.” Stivers described Snively as “top notch and we hate to lose him.”
“We loved him though. He was the greatest,” she said. “It’s a big loss to the township.”
A Franklin Twp. resident, Snively was appointed as township fire chief on Aug. 8 from a field of 29 candidates. Snively, a 26-year veteran of the Middletown Division of Fire, will be continuing his full-time job as Middletown’s assistant fire chief, city officials told the Journal-News.
The Franklin Twp. trustees met Wednesday morning and, following an executive session, accepted Snively’s resignation.
The trustees re-appointed fire Capt. Kevin Jennings as the interim fire chief, and he will receive a $400 a month stipend while in that position. Jennings served as interim fire chief for about 11 months while the township searched for a permanent replacement for former fire chief Steve Bishop, who had retired.
Stivers told the Journal-News that she has reached out to Michael Hannigan, former fire chief for the city of Lebanon, and offered him the position. She said Hannigan, who was second in the township’s selection process, is considering the offer.