Butler Firefighters to Vote for Chief Sunday

The will choose its chief after holding an election this Sunday at the Carey Avenue firehouse.

The election for department chief is held every two years with each fire company choosing its own chief to run. Voting is not open to the public, however, the 89 members who make up the Butler Fire Deprtment are eligible to vote as long as they have achieved an attendance rate of at least 60 percent at alarms, drills and meetings.

In October, the approved an ordinance amendment which lowered the requirement of active members from 60 percent attendance to 50 percent attendance. The ordinance also provided different levels of membership based on attendance to establish who is eligible to vote and who can still be considered a member despite medical conditions.

For Sunday's election, Chief Jim Neill said each company chose their chief to run for department chief. Those running, he said, are himself (Kiel Hook and Ladder Co.); Peter Barry (Pequannock Engine Hose Co.); John Ryan (Bartholdi Hose Co.).

Kinney Hose Co. had wanted Earl Dean to run, however Dean has been disqualified from the election due to a suspension from the department. with second-degree official misconduct, fourth-degree falsifying and/or tampering with records and third-degree tampering with public records by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office in March.

Members will be able to vote between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. After 8 p.m., a second round of ballots will be voted on if a winner is not clear.