Fire Chief’s Status With City Uncertain
Fire Chief Randy Coggan’s on-again, off-again relationship with the city is off again.
Coggan resigned the post in November and moved his family to the Seattle area. But city officials this spring agreed to reinstate Coggan after he asked to return.
Coggan and city officials reached an agreement under which Coggan would be reinstated, but would have to remain in Oxnard for at least three years, Mayor Manuel Lopez said. But Coggan had another change of heart and did not show up for work last month, Lopez said.
“There were two or three starting dates, but he never came in,” Lopez said.
Efforts to reach Coggan were unsuccessful.
City Councilman Tom Holden said that Coggan apparently had difficulties in dealing with the separation from family members who remained in Washington. He said interim Fire Chief Henry Lenhart will continue to head the department.
Lenhart, 53, said he expects to meet with city officials soon to talk about taking the post permanently.
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