It's an issue Austinites are curious about, but one local government officials refuse to discuss -- what did Austin Fire Chief Dan Wilson do?

City Attorney David Hoversten will only say "there are charges made against him that he violated the policies of the city of Austin."

The Fire Committee met in closed session last week about an organizational audit follow-up, a report about communication within the department by an outside consultant and reports from Wilson and three other fire department personnel about the use of a fire truck.

Monday, the City Council also met in closed session to discuss the allegations, but no one will disclose what those allegations are or what city policies were violated.

Members of city council refused to comment.

"Hoversten has threatened us within an inch of our lives if we talk about it," 1st Ward council member and Fire Committee member Wayne Goodnature explained. "I know that's frustrating."

Jeanne Poppe, 2nd Ward council member and chair of the Fire Committee, and Mickey Jorgenson, 1st Ward council member and Fire Committee member, also declined to comment on the allegations, referring all questions to Hoversten.

Hoversten declined to comment on the allegations, explaining "the Government Data Practices Act allows you to disclose to the public the identity of the individual and the general nature of the charges, but not the specifics."

The Fire Committee and City Council have discussed the allegations in closed sessions and the matter has now been forwarded to the Fire Civil Service Commission, Hoversten said. The Commission, which consists of three citizens, will then investigate the matter and if they want to pursue the charges, they will set a public hearing at which the allegations will be discussed.

Once the charges are discussed, the Commission members will "decide if discipline is merited or not and what the extent of the discipline should be," based on the severity of the charges, Hoversten said. Essentially, "they act as a court."

He was unable to gage how long that process will take.

Amanda L. Rohde can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at :mailto:amanda.rohde@austindailyherald.com