Reidland-Farley Fire Chief Richard Tapp is now on unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act for an undisclosed ailment.
David Kelly, attorney for the fire district, said the leave, required under federal law, can last up to 12 weeks. While on leave, the fire district must pay his health insurance.
Tapp has worked only a few days since mid-November, when he told the Sun he was being treated for stress.
The trustees last month suspended Tapp without pay, saying he had used all of his vacation time, and announced plans to file administrative charges that could result in his dismissal. They have not disclosed what charges will be filed.
The suspension became a medical leave after Tapp filed appropriate documents, Kelly said. Details of Tapp’s illness are protected under confidentiality laws.
Kelly planned to file the administrative charges this month, but said Tuesday that may be delayed as long as Tapp is on medical leave. He said if Tapp is ill and can’t respond to the charges, his rights may be violated.
A special audit being conducted of the district’s finances includes Tapp’s expenses.
Tapp did not respond to an e-mail request for comment.
Meanwhile, the fire district also received a written response from Justin Adams regarding a request for documents related to federal grant applications that he was administering, Trustee Doug Moore said. Adams moved to Texas last summer but continued to be the fire district’s grant administrator.
Trustees were having a difficult time obtaining information about pending grants and voted last month to remove Adams. They also approved a letter ordering Adams to provide documents and passwords to federal grant Web sites.
In a letter to Kelly, Adams said the grant information, requested documents and passwords were given to Tapp or former trustee Vernon Hudson last summer. Hudson, who was secretary treasurer of the board, resigned four months ago.
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