Mayor Michael Muzychka is disappointed by former Olds Fire Department chief Mike Hoffman's decision to resign.
"(It's) a little shocking; a little sad to see him go," Muzychka said during an interview with the Albertan.
Hoffman tendered his resignation to chief administrative officer Michael Merritt on Monday, Dec. 4, effective immediately. He was only on the job for three months.
Efforts to replace Hoffman are well underway, according to Merritt. He said he planned to meet with Debbie Rogers, the town's human resources director, to determine the next steps.
Muzychka was asked why Hoffman resigned.
"It was an HR (human resources) issue is all we can sadly say. That's a privacy thing," he said.
Earlier, Merritt said Hoffman was "dealing with a number of items" including efforts to sell his home in Lethbridge.
Scott Chant, the town's director of operations, and a captain of the fire department, will serve as acting fire chief until a new fire chief is chosen.
Chant filled the same role when former fire chief Lorne Thompson and the town parted ways this past spring. Prior to his departure, Thompson had been the town's fire chief for 13 years.
Merritt praised the way Chant responded to the situation.
"He agreed to it immediately," he said.
Muzychka said there is one small positive aspect of Hoffman's decision. Because he was only on the job for three months, the resumes the town received during the last search for a fire chief could still largely be relevant.
"I would think so. I would think so, after three months they would still be quite fresh," he said.
Captain Scott Chant is once again serving as acting fire chief
