Assistant Fire Chief Will Serve as Interim Fire Chief in Waukesha
Police & Fire Commission will soon begin search for next fire chief.
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Assistant Fire Chief of Administration Steve Howard has been named the interim fire chief to served the Waukesha Fire Department between Chief Allen LaConte’s departure and until the Police and Fire Commission hires a new chief.
LaConte is retiring from the fire department after three decades of firefighting experience. LaConte announced in November that he would be retiring.
The Waukesha Common Council has approved funding for a new fire chief to begin this summer. The Police & Fire Commission, an appointed governing body in charge of hiring decisions at the police and fire departments, is asking Interim City Administrator Steve Crandell to request bids from at least three search firms as the commission looks for the next fire chief.
Mona Garcia
7:44 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
So they've known since November that the Fire Chief was going to retire and they don't start looking for a new Chief until now? Typically beaurocratic!!!
Sarah Millard
9:44 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Mona, the Common Council delayed the start date of the new fire chief during the budget process to cut money from the budget. Perhaps you will remember that the original budget proposed a flat tax rate but then a $136 garbage fee. The aldermen did way with the garbage fee, but cut other items to bring the taxes to a .12 percent increase. That included not filling the fire chief's position for three months - operating with an interim chief instead. Two firefighter positions were also removed from the budget, which decreased staffing levels at the fire department. http://waukesha.patch.com/articles/waukesha-common-council-adopts-budget-with-12-increase