Wednesday, September 26, 2012
A disagreement between the Police and Fire Commission and the Common Council over the scope and funding of a search means no progress has been made in replacing Fire Chief Allen LaConte, who retired in March.
It’s been 10 months since Fire Chief Allen LaConte announced his retirement and the city has yet to begin the hiring process to find his replacement. Assistant Fire Chief Steve Howard has been filling the role in the interim, but a funding dispute between the Police and Fire Commission and the Common Council has kept the fire department from moving forward. The PFC wants to hold a nationwide search, while half the council wants to see an internal candidate promoted. Police and Fire Commission Chairwoman Cheryl Gemignani said she plans to bring the fire chief search funding request back to the Finance Committee in October. In the meantime, she plans to set up a meeting with the new city administrator, Ed Henschel, to discuss the issue. “…
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Reception at The Rotunda was held this weekend to honor Fire Chief Allen LaConte, who retired earlier this month after more than three decades of service to Waukesha.
City leaders gathered Friday night at The Rotunda to celebrate retired Fire Chief Allen LaConte’s many years of service to the Waukesha Fire Department See more about LaConte’s retirement:
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Allen LaConte's last day with the Waukesha Fire Department was Friday.
If any Waukesha aldermen – past or present – ever wondered why Fire Chief Allen LaConte may have been late for a meeting or showed up covered in water, it’s only because he became the unsuspecting victim at the fire station. The firefighters didn’t mean to prank the chief. It just happened. Rob Sprader, a Waukesha firefighter, said he sometimes fell victim to his own pranks, but he never forgets the times he accidentally targeted LaConte. Sprader told the following story during LaConte’s retirement ceremony Friday morning. "At the old station we used to have a certain style of sink that you could set up. We used to set up the sink so that when you went to get a glass of water or to clean out your dish, it would spray you. We had two …
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Police & Fire Commission will soon begin search for next fire chief.
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.
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City of Waukesha Fire Department
130 W Saint Paul Ave, Waukesha, WI
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Firefighter Cody Brueggen, who serves in the Army National Guard, nominated the fire department for the award.
The Waukesha Fire Department was recognized Wednesday morning as a patriotic employer by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It’s the third time the department has been honored by the organization for its flexibility with those serving the country while working as full-time fire department employees. Waukesha Firefighter Cody Brueggen, also a mechanic in the Army National Guard, nominated the fire department for the award. Firefighters in the Waukesha Fire Department work 24-hour shifts that are scheduled for the entire year. Firefighters need to have someone cover their shift if they need to leave, according to Brueggen’s nomination letter, which was read before a small group of …
43.012158
-88.234994
City of Waukesha Fire Department
130 W Saint Paul Ave, Waukesha, WI
/articles/waukesha-fire-department-named-a-patriotic-employer
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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
After 34 years on city fire department, Allen LaConte is moving on from career.
Allen LaConte was a young man just out of high school in the early 1970s, living in Menomonee Falls, when he answered an advertisement seeking volunteer firefighters. “I thought I would give that a whirl. So I did and I fell in love with the job right away,” LaConte said. It was an emotionally charged moment Monday night during the Police & Fire Commission meeting when LaConte announced his retirement at Fire Station No. 1. He officially leaves the fire department in early March. “It is just time to go,” said LaConte, 61, who has been with the Waukesha Fire Department for 34 years after starting in July 1977, during an interview with Waukesha Patch. He took the fire chief position in August 2001 after a nationwide search. When he started …
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City of Waukesha Fire Department
130 W Saint Paul Ave, Waukesha, WI
/articles/waukesha-fire-chief-s-retirement-comes-with-mixed-emotions
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Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Allen LaConte’s retirement is being discussed at Police & Fire Commission meeting on Monday.
Waukesha Fire Chief Allen LaConte is retiring, according to the Police & Fire Commission’s agenda. The meeting is being held at 5 p.m. Monday at Waukesha Fire Station No. 1, 130 W. St. Paul Ave. Other items on the agenda include a lieutenant retirement and two promotions within the department to lieutenant and equipment operator. LaConte was not at the fire station when Patch tried to contact him Wednesday afternoon. He sent an e-mail to Patch saying he will give more details on Monday. In an e-mail to Waukesha firefighters sent out Wednesday afternoon, LaConte thanked all fire department employees for their contributions to the department while he announced his retirement effective March 3. “After more than 34 years of serving this …
43.012158
-88.234994
City of Waukesha Fire Department
130 W Saint Paul Ave, Waukesha, WI
/articles/waukesha-fire-chief-is-retiring
1062844
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Atron
9:16 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Why should the City waste resources when they have a fine gentleman at the helm now? This fire department stuff isn't rocket science. All you need is someone who is committed to provide the best customer service possible with the available funds to accomplish same and be a leader and a team player in the whole process. What is there not to like? more ›