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Brosnan takes over as fire board chairwoman following outburst

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: November 13, 2009

SPRING HILL - The board of fire commissioners elected a new chairwoman Wednesday.

They decided they didn't want to wait until December to switch chairs - although the former chairman didn't want to relinquish his seat quietly.

After the fireworks stopped, Amy Brosnan took over.

Several outbursts came from the former chairman, Leo Jacobs, most of which were directed toward Fire Commissioner Rob Giammarco.

After a quick vote, Brosnan took her new seat, seized the gavel and presided over the rest of the meeting.

Jacobs' fiercest comments came while Giammarco was giving an opinion about the public comment policy.

Feeling slighted, Jacobs banged the gavel. Giammarco then shot back, "You can bang at me all you want Mr. Chairman ..."

"I'm banging at you now!" replied Jacobs.

Brosnan then tried to quell the yelling.

"We need peace," she said. "We need peace right now ... This is like a child's game."

For the second time in 10 minutes, Giammarco made a motion to have Brosnan take over immediately. It was seconded by Brosnan and the board voted unanimously in favor.

Jacobs refused to leave his seat. He sarcastically thanked Giammarco.

"You're welcome, please vacate the seat," Giammarco said.

"I'm not doing that," said Jacobs.

"You have to; you've just been voted out," answered Giammarco.

A five-minute recess was called. When the meeting resumed, Brosnan was in the appropriate seat.

Fire Commissioners John Pasquale and Giammarco were elected vice chairman and second vice chairman, respectively.

Early in the meeting, Giammarco was elected to be the chairman, but he declined. He did not give a reason other than to say leading the board was not his "forte."

Jacobs, in his first comments after switching chairs, said he refused to be targeted by other members of the board.

Brosnan told him he could not finish his rant.

"I'm in this chair, and I'm telling you to relax," she said.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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