Bloomington Fire Chief Jason Moore has resigned just under a week after Mayor-elect Kerry Thomson announced she would reappoint him to the position next year.
Moore, who has served as chief since 2016, announced his resignation in a Monday letter to Mayor John Hamilton.
“Even though the mayor-elect has opted to reappoint me as the fire chief, I believe the city and department deserve a leader who is in alignment with the future trajectory and vision of the new leadership,” Moore wrote.
His resignation is effective Dec. 31.
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Moore did not specify his reasons for leaving but, in an email to staff members, he alluded to challenges within the fire department.
“While I realize there are still big challenges ahead, I am hopeful that you are on a great path with continued support from the city administration and council to correct the last three major hurdles to elevate you to the staffing levels, pay, and dispatch services you deserve,” Moore wrote.
He continued, “New and updated apparatus and facilities are on the horizon; the long-term plans that have been developed will ensure the sustainability of replacement cycles and properly provide for your needs to be able to serve the community.”
Read more: Fire union, administration find common ground after dispute over new hires
The fire department has struggled with an exodus of firefighters, which the local fire union attributes to low pay and staffing shortages.
Union representatives are now concerned funds originally promised for the remodel of a fire station and construction of a new training center may be cut if the sale of the Bloomington police station does not go through.
Moore declined an interview with WFIU/WTIU News, writing, “I am not offering any comment beyond my official letter of resignation to the mayor, and since it was already leaked, the internal email to my staff.
In his letter to Thomson, Moore cited accomplishments such as improving firefighter safety and overall emergency service delivery and stabilizing and standardizing equipment.
Read more: Renovations to downtown Bloomington fire station to start next week
In 2021, the Bloomington Fire Department became one of four fire departments in Indiana with the highest possible rating from the Insurance Services Office.
“The department is on a great path to avoid ever getting back to the alarming condition it was when I was hired,” he wrote. “I am proud of our personnel who are some of the most passionate and professional public servants I have had the pleasure to work with and know that they are properly prepared to handle whatever the community needs.”
Thomson was unavailable for comment.
A spokesman for Thomson said the mayor-elect plans to name an interim appointment before the end of December.
