JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio – In a rare Saturday meeting, Mingo Junction Village Council convened to address an ongoing legal dispute involving back pay owed to Fire Chief Brandon Montgomery.
Montgomery had been placed on unpaid leave beginning in July 2024 and was reinstated in September. The dispute centers on compensation for that period, with the amount in question totaling roughly $90,000.
The unusual timing of the weekend meeting drew sharp criticism from members of the community who attended. Several residents accused council of attempting to limit public awareness and scrutiny by holding the meeting on a Saturday rather than during a regularly scheduled session.
Council members said the meeting was necessary to discuss legal matters tied to the dispute, though details of the discussion were limited. No final resolution on the back pay issue was announced during the meeting.
