Frankfort Fire Board Discusses Process for Selecting New Chief

Article Summary: The Frankfort Fire Protection District Board of Trustees convened a special meeting to discuss the interview and assessment protocols for selecting a permanent Fire Chief. No formal action was taken following the closed-session discussion.

Frankfort Fire Protection District Key Points:

• Special Meeting: Trustees met on Thursday, October 9, 2025, specifically to address the Fire Chief replacement process.

• Closed Session: The Board spent approximately 36 minutes in closed session to discuss personnel matters.

• No Vote: The Board reconvened in public but did not take action on the items discussed.

The Frankfort Fire Protection District Board of Trustees met on Thursday, October 9, 2025, for a special meeting focused on the leadership transition of the department.

All five trustees—President Nicholas Spano, Robert Boll, Patricia Field, Justin Lohrens, and James McGeever, Jr.—were present for the 5:15 p.m. meeting held at Fire Station Number Seventy-One on West Nebraska Street. Interim Fire Chief Paul Kinsella was also in attendance, alongside battalion chiefs and lieutenants.

The agenda was limited to a single item regarding the search for a permanent leader. At 5:16 p.m., Trustee Spano moved to enter a closed session for the purpose of discussing the “Interview and Assessment Process for Fire Chief Replacement,” as permitted under the Open Meetings Act regarding personnel and employment matters.

The Board remained in closed session until 5:52 p.m. Upon reconvening in open session, President Spano confirmed that no action was to be taken on the items discussed. The meeting was adjourned immediately following the return to open session.

Meeting Attendance:
All members of the Board of Trustees were present for the special meeting: President Nicholas Spano, Robert Boll, Patricia Field, Justin Lohrens, and James McGeever, Jr. District staff in attendance included Interim Fire Chief Paul Kinsella, Battalion Chiefs/Paramedics Kevin Linhart and Jeremy Stukel, and Lieutenant/Paramedic Brian Adcock.