Over objections from its firefighters, Coplay Borough Council voted to advertise for a new volunteer fire chief.

Councilman Bill Leiner Jr. opposed the motion. Councilmen Matthew Recker and Michael Mazur were absent. Councilmen Charles Sodl, David Royer, Lou Bodish and Joseph Groller voted in favor.

During last week's workshop, Sodl read a letter to council from fire Chief David Buskaritz announcing his resignation as chief and retirement from firefighting effective Jan. 1.

At Tuesday's meeting, Richard Craig, president of the Coplay Firefighters Association, and firefighter Christine Buskaritz asked council to honor tradition and appoint Buskaritz's son, Matthew, as chief.

"It was unanimously decided by all fire department personnel that Matt would be the best choice to lead our department," said Craig, adding that Matthew Buskaritz has 22 years of firefighting experience in Coplay, including six years as an assistant chief. "I hope the current council takes into consideration the experience, knowledge and dedication of the person that we feel would best represent our department and community."

Craig asked council members why they chose to disregard the firefighters' recommendation.

Council members did not answer.

"I would be lying if I stood here today and told you I was not completely and utterly torn up inside over the issue of certain members of this borough council wanting to advertise and bring an outside person in as volunteer fire chief," said firefighter Christine Buskaritz, who is also Matthew Buskaritz's wife. "As far back as anyone can remember the borough has always appointed the fire chief based on the recommendations of the fire department. There appeared to be no issues with the way this was done until now."

Both Craig and Christine Buskaritz said it is common practice for municipalities to appoint volunteer fire chiefs based on the recommendations of the firefighters.

Christine Buskaritz also said not anyone can lead the department. The firefighters need someone they know and who knows them and the area.

Former Councilwoman Beverly Miller also spoke up on behalf of the fire department.

In 2005, the Coplay Fire Company split to form the Coplay Fire Department, representing firefighters, and Commitment to Family and Community, which had been the social arm of the fire company.

"We didn't have the cooperation you have now," Miller said, addressing Sodl. "You may not agree with everything ... but it's nothing compared to what you had before."

The Coplay Fire Company did not share information with council, according to Miller.

"When we asked, we were told it was none of our business," she said.

Despite the breakup of the fire company, which caused several firefighters to leave the department, David Buskaritz stayed.

"You got a fire chief who held these people together. Don't you think his son would do the same?" Miller said.

Addressing council President Lou Bodish, Miller said Sodl should not serve as chair of the emergency services committee, which includes oversight of the fire department, because of his past involvement with the former Coplay Fire Company.

"That's your opinion," Bodish said.

Sodl began his report as chair of the emergency services committee by saying the issue with the fire department fuel has caused quite a stir.

"When things go wrong, when we don't want to hear something and we don't agree with it, we try to shoot the messenger," said Sodl. "In this case, people are looking at me. All I'm trying to do is what I was asked to do – oversee."

Last week, David Buskaritz said the fuel was budgeted so that he and the two assistant chiefs would always be able to respond to a call, no matter where they were.

They were told they could spend up to the budgeted amount, which was $4,000 in 2012, he said.

Sodl said last week he disagrees with spending the budgeted amount without documentation on where the vehicles were going and why.

As of November, Sodl said, the gas line item in the budget had been "overspent." He did not say by how much.

The $4,000 originally allotted in the 2013 proposed budget has been reduced to $3,000, he said. Council will vote on the proposed budget at a special meeting Dec. 17.

Sodl said he had made up mileage logs and reimbursement forms to be made available to the fire department to document fuel usage.

Sodl compared the fire department fuel expenditures to those of the police department, where route sheets are filled out to document all miles driven during an officer's shift.

When someone in the police department needs reimbursement for a fuel expenditure, the person files paperwork, said Sodl.