Correspondent Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021 KEY ACTION: Heard a presentation from John Barkan of Barkan & Associates, who has been hired to conduct a survey of both the Canal Fulton and Lawrence Township Fire Departments. DISCUSSION: The online survey will allow the firefighters to confidentially respond to questions, so Barkan can complete a study to evaluate the departments and provide recommendations for improvements. Barkan, a longtime labor relations and human resources consultant and former firefighter was hired by council at a cost of $8,500 to conduct the study because of unspecified discord within the Fire Department. The study will also help determine if both departments should operate under one chief instead of the current two. Canal Fulton and Lawrence Township firefighters work together under a “living together” agreement. Barkan said the target date to complete the study is March 1. Because it involves personnel, he said that he would first discuss the study in an executive session with council.