STUART, Iowa– The director of Emergency Medical Services for the City of Stuart has resigned following an alleged controversy that led the City Council to call a special meeting to evaluate his job performance.

Sean Bovinett, who has not responded to multiple requests from WHO 13 for comment, reportedly submitted his resignation on Thursday night. According to a special agenda posted on the city’s website, council members were expected to discuss his “professional competency” in a closed session. The council livestreamed the first 2:45 minutes of the meeting before going into the closed portion.

“Once the meeting was opened back to the public, the council voted unanimously to accept Sean’s resignation,” one local leader told WHO 13.

While the city has not released an official reason for the meeting, multiple sources close to Stuart EMS confirmed it stemmed from a recent incident the volunteer Fire Department had addressed on its Facebook page.

“It has been brought to our attention and seen by some members that the flag has been tampered with and raised to full staff on several occasions even after being lowered,” the post read, in part.

The flag had been lowered in accordance with a mandate from the Governor in memory of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, who had been publicly assassinated Sept. 10. A separate order by the Governor mandated flags be flown at half staff on Sept. 11 for the anniversary of 9/11.

The flag was raised prematurely four or five times, Fire Chief Stephen Martinson told WHO 13’s Katie Kaplan. The act was caught on a surveillance camera that has been posted outside the fire and EMS station for several years, he said. The agencies share a building.

The repeated actions sparked frustration among some community members who had caught wind that it was someone employed by taxpayer funds.

“I just don’t think that is a very good taste of somebody that is a city employee,” said Katie Johnson. “I think that the city should hold that person accountable for whatever they feel is necessary.”

It remains unclear how Bovinett’s departure will impact day-to-day operations at the agency.

Stuart Mayor Dick Cook also did not respond to WHO 13’s request for comment.