Sherman resigns as ambulance chair
By Jeremiah Tucker, Sauk Prairie Eagle
During a meeting that took place behind closed doors last week, Sauk Prairie Ambulance Service Commission Chair Cheryl Sherman resigned from the commission.
Sauk Prairie Ambulance Association Director Jason Demerath sent an e-mail June 5 to the service's volunteers stating that Sherman resigned at the end of a special, closed-session commission meeting June 4.
In a phone interview June 8, Roger Mack, the commission's vice-president and representative of the town of Troy, said he was the interim chair until the commission elects a new one.
"(Sherman's resignation) was kind of a surprise to everyone, or it certainly was to me," Mack said.
Sherman declined to comment on her reasons for resigning for this article.
Mack said he and other members of the commission asked her to reconsider, but she said her personal life was being neglected.
"And all things involved, I can't say I blame her," Mack said.
Sherman's resignation came one week after the association's training officer and second-in-command Dean Darling told Sherman during the commission's regular meeting that he'd considered asking for her resignation because of the commission's attempt to remove his wife, Rikky Schiller, who also serves as president of the Sauk Prairie Ambulance Association.
During that meeting, Darling and five other members of the 36-member association posed numerous questions to the commission about its handling of the service and Demerath's job performance.
The commission's special meeting June 4 was convened to discuss with Demerath some of the questions and allegations raised during its May 28 meeting.
In an e-mail sent June 2 to Sauk Prairie Ambulance Association members, association director Demerath informed the members he would be meeting with the commission.
"I will do my best to get the commission to start to address the concerns of this organization," Demerath stated. "Even if you have brought your concerns up to the commission in the past, please consider letting me know so I can make sure everything is answered."
In the days leading up to the June 4 meeting, Sherman gave no indication she would be resigning.
Sherman stated in an e-mail sent June 3 to commissioners and association officials that there were many allegations made against Demerath during the commission's May 28th meeting.
"The Commission will be going into closed session on Thursday, June 4, 2009, to discuss with the Director those allegations as part of his evaluation and expectations," Sherman stated. "We also intend to formalize and approve his evaluation."
In response to the announcement of a closed-session meeting, Jim Anderson sent an e-mail the morning of June 3 stating he believed the meeting should be open.
"The EMS association also wants the answer to the questions that were asked," Anderson stated.
Commission member Marcus Wenzel stated in a reply that he agreed.
"Let's get some common sense and put all this to rest once and for all and not in secret," Wenzel stated. "I agree with Jim, this can be done now and with everyone. It's time to dispense with senseless laws that probably don't even pertain to SPAA and get this done. I am really sick of this and people in the community are even sick of it, too. This kind of thing shouldn't happen ever."
In her e-mail, Sherman stated there would be an agenda item to address the questions raised at the May 28 meeting in open session.
"To the extent those questions raise issues related to personnel issues which are inappropriate for open session discussion, I will exercise my authority as chair to limit discussion on those issues," Sherman said.
Mack said he needs more time before deciding if he would be willing to replace Sherman as chair of the commission.
"I've been asked, but I said I have to give this some thought," Mack said. "At this point in time I'm not committed to being president of the commission."
In the email he sent to members of the association announcing Sherman's resignation, Demerath included a statement from Mack addressing some of the ongoing problems within the ambulance service.
" The Commission and its Personnel Committee have now had the opportunity to hear from Association members on several occasions about issues raised about the Service," Mack stated. "We have also involved the Association in an evaluation of the Director. We have met with the Director to discuss those issues. As was indicated to you, the Commission will address these matters in the appropriate manner in open session on June 18, 2009. At that time, the Commission will also address its intent as to how it will proceed in the future.
"The Commission wishes to thank Cheryl for her dedicated service to the Service. She has been unjustly and unfairly been subject to inappropriate comments and pressure. This will not continue. We have made the appropriate transition of duties and the Commission has a defined course of action. Our continued goal is the provision of quality services to our patients and communities."
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