TOWN OF WINCHESTER, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Nestled in the Town of Winchester and its less than 2,000 people is a sign that reads: “Shame on you! Town Chairman Olson for destroying our Town of Winchester Volunteer Fire Department and the lives of our firefighters and first responders.”
Ex-fire chief Tom Forbes tells FOX 11 difficulties with chairman Matt Olson caused him to resign last week.
“Once he became town chairman, there was a lot of micromanaging, I will say that. It just seemed like there was always more concern about what I was doing than other parts of the town.”
Forbes says it was too much as an unpaid volunteer.
“I came down to the decision it was best for me just to hold my head high and be proud of what the fire department built and move on with that chapter of my life.”
Olson tells FOX 11 they tried to work it out.
“We met with him at least a half a dozen times, closed session, with the entire town board. Tried to work things out. Apparently it wasn’t going the way he thought it should go so he resigned. And that’s the end of the story.”
The town has a roster of around 20 firefighters.
So far, the Town of Winchester has had the chief, a lieutenant and a first responder resign. Captain Dan Buser says more than half the department is considering resigning.
“We don’t have that many daytime firefighters. And during the day and stuff, if anymore resign, it’s not going to be good.”
Buser is worried the town may have to contract with the Town of Clayton– costing taxpayers money.
Olson says that won’t happen.
“Last conversation I had with the interim chief is that he’s met with all the officers or spoke with them on the phone, and there’s nobody resigning, everybody’s going to step up, and we’re gonna move forward.”
Residents say there is a lack of transparency from the town board because of multiple closed sessions.
Some residents like Tom Northway, who also a volunteer firefighter, tell FOX 11 they feel they don’t have the opportunity to speak at town board meetings.
“You try to talk about it and they turn you off because you’re talking about things they don’t want to come out.”
There will be a meeting between the fire department and the town board on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. It is open to the public.
