Announcement expected early Tuesday regarding fire chief

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is expected to make an announcement Tuesday morning regarding the employment status of Fire Chief Mike Figliola.

SooToday has learned that Figliola was seen removing cardboard cartons from his office around suppertime Friday and has not been seen at the fire hall since then.

His city-owned vehicle, which Figliola used to travel each night to his home near Thessalon, has been sitting since Friday behind the central fire hall on Tancred Street.

After their regular biweekly public meeting, city councillors met behind closed doors to discuss an unspecified human resources matter.

Chief administrative officer Al Horsman and Malcolm White, deputy CAO for corporate services, both told SooToday that an announcement regarding the matter would be made early Tuesday.

City councillors were advised against discussing the issue until a formal announcement is made by city staff.

Firefighters indicate that no formal announcement or notice has so far been given to them by the city.

A former deputy fire chief in North Bay, Figliola was chosen to lead Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services in December, 2014.

His 29 months as the Sault's fire chief have been marked by friction with the Sault Ste. Marie Firefighters Association over staffing levels and other issues.