Closed session on Swanton fire chief continues late

12/18/2002

SWANTON - Swanton Village Council's hearing for Fire Chief Jim Guy, which started at 6 p.m. yesterday in a closed session, appeared likely to last late into the night.

About 18 witnesses were subpoenaed. By mid evening, only a few had appeared before council, which had the windows of its meeting room covered with brown paper.

Chief Guy, who is accused of driving a village fire truck in a firefighters convention parade after drinking beer and intimately kissing an emergency medical technician whom he supervises, appeared at the hearing in his dress uniform. Yesterday was the chief's 39th birthday.

Chief Guy was suspended without pay for 15 days this fall because of reports of his behavior at the convention in North Baltimore, Ohio, in June.

Earlier this month, a hearing before council's safety committee for Jason Tipton, a volunteer firefighter who faced numerous charges, lasted six hours - until 2 a.m.