Delphi firefighters asking mayor to resign from fire territory board

DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI) - Delphi mayor Randy Strasser and some firefighters are at odds.

"Basically it is my opinion and the opinion of the members of the department that he has had conflicts with this department for several years," Delphi Fire Department Chief Darrell Sterrett said about the mayor.

He wouldn't tell News 18 the exact reasons for the conflict, but he said something needs to be done.

"We feel those conflicts are now disruptive and we just feel it's time for city council to make a change," the fire chief said.

The change Sterrett and other members are looking for is the removal of Strasser from the Fire Protection Territory Board. The board overlooks finances for three townships and the Delphi fire department. Strasser is the Delphi representative to the board. Sterrett and others are requesting city council replace Strasser with another city official.

In a letter to the mayor dated Feb. 27, chief officers point out past conflicts, calling them disruptive and unhealthy. The letter ends with a request for the mayor to resign from the board.

Strasser said he first heard of the firefighter's concerns last week. The mayor said that's when he tried to reach out to firefighters.

"I'm offering to the territory board, the city council and the fireman to actually sit down and talk about the issues going on there and try and get a resolution," Strasser said. 

The mayor said he's not sure what conflict the letter is referring to, but until he meets with members of the board Strasser said he isn't going to speculate.

"Until I have a chance and sit down and talk to the firemen and everybody else that's involved in this I don't think it does me any good to speculate or do the process any good," the mayor said.

Strasser said firefighters have not accepted his invitation to meet. Sterrett said he doesn't recall it ever being offered.