Washington County Attorney John Gish and Assistant County Attorney Jennifer Lerner met with trustees from Brighton, Clay, Marion, and Dutch Creek Townships on Tuesday, November 22. The objective of the meeting was to review and take public comments regarding a proposed 28E Agreement relating to fire protection in the City of Brighton. 

Following continued disputes concerning the current agreement, the Brighton Volunteer Fire Department issued a letter to the city on October 21. In the letter, the department stated that they would no longer respond to calls within Brighton’s city limits beginning November 30, unless a resolution was reached. They would still respond to calls in the surrounding townships. 

The disagreements center largely around control of the city’s fire department fund. The proposed 28E Agreement would establish an advisory board with representatives from the city council, townships, and fire department, and that board would be granted power to make decisions regarding this fund. Gish told attendees that the legality of budget-making decisions by a board consisting of non-elected members would need to be reviewed. 

In the meantime, the Brighton City Council voted unanimously at their most recent meeting on Monday to hire consultant, Pat Callahan.

The trustees in attendance agreed to reconvene on Tuesday, November 29 at the Washington County Courthouse to vote on whether or not they will meet with Callahan. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m.