Firefighters, residents urge supervisors to rehire Bill Wiegman
Former Fire Chief Bill Wegman was the clear focus of public comment Thursday night, as firefighters, department leaders and longtime residents urged the Board of Supervisors to reconsider his resignation and rehire him to lead the township’s fire services.
One by one, speakers stepped to the microphone to describe Wegman’s leadership as transformational, crediting him with unifying career and volunteer firefighters under the department’s motto of “one department, one mission.”
Lee Morano, captain of the fire police unit and the department’s treasurer, said when he joined nine years ago, tensions between paid staff and volunteers created what “almost seemed like there were two different departments.”
“When Bill became fire chief, one of his main goals was to eliminate this conflict and make it one unified department,” Morano said. “I believe that during his tenure, he did achieve this goal.”
Morano warned that losing Wegman’s leadership could destabilize the department.
“I think when Bill left, it was like cutting the head off a snake and the snake will eventually die,” he said. “Rehire Bill Wegman as fire chief… He is the most qualified candidate and has proven that he can do the job and win the respect of the entire department.”
Several firefighters referenced the circumstances surrounding Wegman’s December resignation, describing internal conflicts and public debate over the department’s growth and direction.
Jake Millevoi, captain with the fire department, told supervisors he was speaking “not only as a public servant… but also as someone who deeply cares about this community and its fire department,” as he urged them to reconsider Wegman’s resignation.
While thanking the board for its consistent support, he acknowledged that recent debate over the department’s growth and direction had been “difficult at times and at other times divisive,” creating “real fractures within our ranks.”
In that environment, he said, “a small number of voices began to unfairly tarnish the reputations of dedicated members… most notably Chief Bill Wegman.”
He described the fire department as a “complex microcosm” operating under pressures often invisible to the public, but said progress over the past several years was undeniable.
“At the center of that progress was our fire chief, Bill Wegman,” he said, adding that relationships formed between Wegman and township leaders were rooted in “trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to this township.”
“He was not simply a director of fire services brought in from a previous career elsewhere. He was Montgomery Township… He embodies everything that Montgomery Township stands for,” Millevoi said.
“I respectfully urge you to consider bringing Chief Wegman back… to continue building a strong, unified, and forward-looking combination department,” he said.
Angel Meijas, a volunteer lieutenant of fire police and president of the department’s relief association, said minor internal disputes were “magnified” and used to undermine the chief.
“A small number of disgruntled members submitted letters criticizing the chief,” Mahz said. “Those grievances… were given outsized weight. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority… stood here before you publicly by name to affirm their confidence in Chief Wegman’s leadership.”
Meijas said more than 300 residents signed a petition calling for Wegman’s reinstatement.
“This isn’t about pride and it shouldn’t be about politics,” he said. “It’s about whether this board is willing to correct course in the interest of what is best for the community.”
Adam Zwislewski echoed the theme of unity.
Zwislewski, who serves as department president and an assistant chief, read from an email he sent to staff earlier in the day. He credited Wegman with elevating training standards, securing new apparatus and equipment, and pursuing grant funding to minimize financial impact on taxpayers.
“Bill embodied the concept of one department, one mission and fostered a strong relationship between the volunteer and career staff,” Zwislewski said. “Working underneath Bill, he’s been quite hard to keep up with… I support Bill coming back.”
Residents also shared personal stories about Wegman’s character.
Chris O’Neal, a 25-year township resident, described how Wegman visited his home in 2012 before his son underwent brain surgery, bringing a St. Florian medal and praying with the family.
“He didn’t have to do that, but he did it because he’s a kind man,” O’Neal said. “He’s the right man to lead this township into the future.”
Joan Anton, a charter and life member of the department, said she has seen multiple chiefs come and go over the years.
“My personal observation is Bill has done more for our department than all the rest of them put together,” Anton said.
Not every speaker framed their remarks as a direct demand for reinstatement. Jay Washeski, who said he is retiring from a longtime employer next month after leaving and returning once before, urged supervisors to at least reconsider.
“I’m not going to tell you to rehire him,” he said. “But I’m going to tell you… give him serious consideration. I think the solution is better with him than without him.”
Montgomery Township Supervisor Candyce Chimera publicly confirmed Thursday that she supports former Fire Chief Bill Wegman’s return and detailed the volume of community backing he has received.
“I’ve made no secret that I am in support of him coming back,” Chimera said, noting the board received 19 letters in a single week advocating for Wegman’s reinstatement.
“That’s a lot of people throwing support under Bill,” she said.
She read excerpts into the record, many of which echoed a common refrain: “Chief Wegman was not simply a director of fire services brought in from a previous career elsewhere. He was Montgomery Township.”
Another letter stated, “You need to give him a chance to come back. He deserves a second chance. Everyone makes mistakes. You grow and learn from those mistakes.”
Chimera highlighted repeated praise for Wegman’s unification of the department’s career and volunteer ranks, quoting supporters who credited him with eliminating a longstanding divide.
“Gone was the them versus us culture I had witnessed for nearly a decade,” one writer said. Others described him as “the glue that holds the department together,” “a hometown hero,” and “one of the best incident commanders and emergency management coordinators in the region.”
Several letters emphasized that under his leadership, the department evolved into “one of the most respected fire departments in southeastern PA,” widely recognized for its seamless career-volunteer partnership and professional development standards.
After being cut off due to time limits while reading letters, was granted two additional minutes at the end of the meeting by Chairwoman Tanya Bamford to read submitted remarks about Wegman’s mentorship.
In the letter read by Chimera, the firefighter described being exposed to a hazardous material early in his volunteer career and said Wegman’s calm, steady guidance made a lasting impact.
“His leadership in that moment was not loud or dramatic,” Chimera read. “It was steady, compassionate, and exactly what a young firefighter needed.”
Supervisors Audrey Ware-Jones and Vice President Beth Staab were absent from the meeting.
