Slatington Borough Council replaced its volunteer fire chief following a lengthy executive session Monday night.

Council appointed Ronald Hausman, a former fire chief, to replace Austin Berger, who served as the borough fire chief since January 2022, said borough manager Dan Stevens.

Hausman also serves as Slatington’s emergency management coordinator.

Stevens said he could not comment on the change, saying it was a personnel matter. He also would not say if there were issues or discussions regarding the fire department before the move.

Borough council met in executive session Monday night from 8:15 to 10:40 p.m., discussing personnel, real estate and legal matters, Stevens said. There have been previous executive sessions on personnel as well, he said.

Fire chiefs from Friedens, Emerald, Slatedale and Walnutport fire companies signed a letter to Slatington Borough Council dated Aug. 1 expressing their concern regarding current leadership in the borough fire department, and their continued participation in mutual aid to the borough.

The fire department had inexperienced leadership, lack of trained personnel and inadequate response times, the chiefs said in the letter. The matter has been brought before council previously, but fell “on deaf ears,” the letter said.

“Our greatest concern and ultimate fear is that firefighters are going to die,” the letter states.

The chiefs further said their membership has created morale issues among the mutual aid departments, and members voiced a lack of interest in aiding the borough because of the way they are treated and a fear for their safety.

The chiefs requested to meet in executive session to discuss a final solution regarding mutual aid to the borough.

Stevens said he saw a copy of the letter, but the borough did not release the letter.