Avon Lake reaches settlement agreement with former fire chief

AVON LAKE — Fired Avon Lake Fire Chief Jeremy Betsa will receive $125,000 as a result of a settlement approved by City Council Monday. Betsa, who was terminated by the city on Dec. 31, will receive "$95,000 as further consideration for the full and final settlement," according to Avon Lake's ordinance, and an additional $30,000 for accumulated sick time. The settlement agreement was introduced to Council on Monday and approved on an emergency measure following its first reading. "This ordinance is written as an agreement that settles various lawsuits, at least — I believe — three that I recall, that Mr. Betsa has filed along with the Civil Service Commission hearings that were being held regarding his employment with the city of Avon Lake," Council President Geoff Smith said. Avon Lake Law Director Gary Ebert said Council "confirmed that the settlement was agreeable." Betsa's firing stemmed from disciplinary proceedings the city engaged in against him over the summer of last year that lasted through the fall. "He (Betsa) filed several administrative proceedings," Ebert said. "One in federal court and one in common pleas. The federal court case and the common pleas were dismissed in favor of the city." On July 14, Avon Lake placed Betsa on a 10-day paid suspension, which he appealed to the Avon Lake City Service Commission. "He went to Civil Service Commission objecting to the discipline that was handed down," Ebert said. "They did not get to a finding. The case was settled at that point in time." On Aug. 15, Mayor Mark Spaetzel notified Betsa that he was being placed on paid administrative leave for unspecified reasons that resulted from an "internal review" from the city. The latter investigation, which resulted in Betsa's termination, examined "allegations related to a hostile work environment and leadership concerns within the Fire Department," Spaetzel said in a news release in December. Betsa's appeal was originally scheduled to receive hearings by the Civil Service Commission. However, three days before those hearings were to begin on Nov. 17, Betsa filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Cleveland, alleging the city's disciplinary proceedings against him were unfounded and violated his civil rights. The commission continued his hearings to January after the lawsuit was filed. In December, Spaetzel stated that Betsa had the right to appeal his termination under the city's employment policies and Civil Service laws. Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com.