Marion City Council approves $54,500 agreement with demoted firefighter

The Marion City Council voted Tuesday to approve a $54,500 agreement with Pete Lammer, a Marion firefighter who was demoted in November from battalion chief to firefighter and paramedic.

Lammer was demoted on Nov. 2 and filed an appeal with the city on Nov. 4. According to a specification of charges and grounds provided to the city by Fire Chief Tom Fagan, Lammer had shown a “persistent pattern of poor leadership, decision-making and judgment in his role as battalion chief.”

Fagan cited several incidents he said showed the leadership and decision-making issues, including an instance in January 2024 when Lammer allowed a firefighter to drive an apparatus the firefighter was not cleared to drive; an incident in July when Lammer did not respond to a radio call for seven minutes, during which the engine he commanded was attempting to reach him about responding to a potential fire; and an instance in August when Lammer allowed a firefighter he was supervising to use a chain saw in a manner that put the firefighter’s safety at risk.

Per the agreement approved Tuesday, Lammer’s demotion stands, but he will dismiss his appeal and agree not to file a lawsuit in exchange for the $54,500 payment. The settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing or liability on the part of the city.

The council approved the agreement without discussion Tuesday. In a statement sent to The Gazette, Fagan said the decision to settle was made to prevent the city from taking on the prolonged legal costs that would have come with a lawsuit.

“This decision will help bring clarity to the ranks of the Marion Fire Department. Mr. Lammer remains a firefighter paramedic with our organization, and this resolution will allow the Department to move forward with promotions for our next battalion chief and, through succession, our next captain,” Fagan said.

“Discipline is part of every organization, and the City of Marion holds its team members accountable. In this case, uncertainty created by recent changes in Iowa law were likely to prolong the ongoing legal proceedings. Being mindful of taxpayer dollars, the City considered time and all associated costs as part of the settlement decision.”

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