Arbiter rules against fire department in grievance

A Havre firefighter said he is glad an arbiter ruled in his favor, saying the fire department improperly kept him from promotion.

“I’m very grateful for the arbiter’s decision,” firefighter D.J. Olson said in a text message Saturday. “It was a long, unnecessary and expensive process to the union and the city that could have been avoided.”

Though he did not say why, Olson said he believes the city’s actions were retaliatory and that the arbitration decision supports that.

Havre Fire Chief Tim Hedges declined this morning to comment onthe decision.

The arbiter, LeRoy Schramm...