Butler Fire Chief Nick Ban retired effective midnight Friday after more than 25 years with the department.

Ban announced the decision Friday in a letter to city council.

“After much soul searching, and despite the advice and counsel of well-meaning friends, fellow residents and other concerned people who hold Butler in a special place in their hearts and prayers, I submitted my retirement notice to the city clerk yesterday,” Ban said in the letter.

“Please note carefully that I said retirement, not resignation. I am leaving this department as the chief.”

The decision came after Mayor Tom Donaldson on Monday demoted Ban from fire chief to lieutenant.

Ban said in his letter that Donaldson personally gave him a letter regarding his demotion. According to Ban, the mayor said in his letter that “no further explanation is offered or required” about Ban’s demotion.

After Donaldson’s unilateral decision was followed by an outcry from city council members, the mayor suspended Ban’s demotion until an emergency council meeting which will be Wednesday at the city building.

Ban also said that Donaldson sought legal counsel from a source besides the city solicitor who had conflicting interpretations: that he could demote Ban without the council’s authorization and that he needed the council’s approval before he could demote Ban.

Ban also sought legal advice and received the same conflicting interpretations.

He was told that if there was a legal challenge in this case, it would need to be settled in court.

Ban wrote, “You can agree with me, I am certain, that not only would such legal battle be time consuming and expensive for our cash-strapped city and its taxpayers, not only would it give us a black eye as we try to show new business investors and prospective residents what a remarkable city we share and call home, but it would also throw the Bureau of Fire into command chaos if the mayor insisted I was a lieutenant, council insisted I was the chief, and the personnel were caught in the middle. No one can predict how long it would take, and at what monetary and emotional cost for all concerned, it would take the issue.

“I could not and will not, in all good conscience, be a part of such a threat to the well-being of the department I love and have served for more than 25 years.”

Donaldson stressed that he had no hard feelings against Ban.

“I wish him well,” he said. “I’m adamant that the decision to originally notify him to demote him had nothing personal involved, and any changes in this department had nothing to do with finances. It will not save any money right away.”

Donaldson also confirmed that Wednesday’s meeting is still on.

“At the end of the day there’s a financial situation that needs addressed, and that’s probably what we’ll be talking about primarily,” he said.

Councilwoman Kathy Kline is upset by the situation.

“Certainly I think everyone in the community knows that I am absolutely not in support of (Ban’s retirement),” she said. “I understand his decision, and it’s very sad that he’s been forced to make that decision based on one person’s decision to what he feels is best for a community that is telling him just the opposite.”

Kline went on, “This is a decision that he feels that he has the right to make as mayor. Well, elected officials are put in by votes that are cast by the community and when the community is telling you absolutely just the opposite, what’s wrong with that picture?

“I can tell you that myself, this department, and the community are not pleased that Nick Ban has been forced to make that decision.”

Councilman Richard Schontz Jr. said that nothing is official until the council accepts Ban’s retirement.

He was surprised by Ban’s letter. However, he doesn’t doubt Ban’s sincerity.

“If Nick is sincere, and I think he is, and the retirement does go through, I’ll miss him,” Schontz said.

He referred to Ban as “very dedicated” and “very loyal.”

Capt. Kevin McAfee, a 32-year department veteran, also is sad to see Ban go.

“I’ve worked with him for 25 years and it’s hard to see a fellow firefighter leave in the way he had to leave,” he said.

McAfee assured the community that the department will continue to run smoothly.

“At the basic level, the captains will probably be doing the day-to-day operations,” he said. “As far as that goes there won’t be any disruption of services to the community whatsoever.”

Ban wrote that he wants the mayor to work with the council to appoint the next chief.

“It is now the prerogative of the mayor to appoint, with the consent of city council, the next chief,” he said.

“Speaking as a resident of the City of Butler, I trust and pray that the council, and all of its members, will act with the best interests of the residents and the personnel of our department in mind,” Ban wrote.