Hiram Mayor Anne Haynam told the village’s firefighters in an email that the department will close just before midnight March 2, and will remain closed until a new fire chief is hired.
The email followed Hiram Fire Chief Bill Byers’ retirement announcement in a letter that called the job “inefficient” and “demeaning.” It also alleged “a toxic work environment.”
The Hiram Firefighters Association recently issued a statement of no confidence in Haynam while expressing full confidence in Byers.
Byers’ retirement letter, dated Feb. 25, was posted to the Hiram Firefighters Association’s Facebook page. The group only days before posted complaints about Haynam and expressed support for Byers. The Association linked its support announcement to the chief’s letter accompanied by a photo of Byers being lifted up by a team of firefighters, with what appears to be a burning house in the background…