CHESTERFIELD, Ind. — In the last few months, the town has named a new town marshal, a new clerk-treasurer, and now a new fire chief — but one has nothing to do with the others.

Chesterfield-Union Township Fire Chief Dave Gillespie held a ceremony Sunday to publicly announce that he is stepping down as fire chief, and dispelled any speculation that his resignation has anything to do with the misappropriated funds that caused five town employees to lose their jobs.

In October, a state audit report was released accusing five town employees, including the former police chief and clerk-treasurer, of defrauding the town of more than $259,000 over the span of two years.

The audit report listed former clerk-treasurer Chris Parrish, former town marshal James Kimm, maintenance workers James and Chris Walters and part-time police officer Joseph Brown as co-conspirators in the alleged fraud.

The investigation is ongoing, and a civil suit has been filed against the employees.

Although his resignation as fire chief comes soon after the audit report was released, Gillespie said his decision is unrelated to the events that have led to reorganization at the town.

He was not named in the audit report.

On Sunday, Gillespie discussed his decision to resign, and introduced his replacement as fire chief, Capt. Todd Huffer.

Gillespie, who has been chief of the fire department for five years, said his decision to resign was made a long time ago. “I said from day one I was going to do a five-year term,” he said.

Gillespie, who works as a full-time firefighter for the Fishers Fire Department, said he was also recently promoted to lieutenant at that department, demanding more of his time.

Chesterfield-Union Township is an all-volunteer fire department whose members are paid only if they respond to an emergency.

As chief, Gillespie said he had been working 36 hours on shift at the Chesterfield department followed by 36 hours off, while maintaining his full-time job in Fishers.

Gillespie said he also recently stepped into a new role with the local Hamilton County firefighters union.

“Between that and having a young family, it’s just time,” he said.

“In no way, shape, or form is this associated with what’s going on with the town,” Gillespie affirmed Sunday.