By Jacqueline Seibel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)
Copyright 2007 Journal Sentinel Inc.
MUSKEGO, Wis. — After a tumultuous two years for the Muskego Fire Department, a man who was fired from the volunteer organization last year is now the department’s newly elected chief.
His first goal is to improve the image of the embattled Fire Department.
Plagued by the theft charges of two of its members while at a fire scene, questionable accounting practices and lapses in providing financial information to the city, the department has elected Andy Mack as its new leader.
“I’m ready to pull this place together and make the city of Muskego proud,” Mack said.
After being suspended in late 2005, Mack was told in a letter a year ago that he was terminated for insubordination, a disruptive attitude and engaging “in a pattern of making baseless and unfounded allegations against other members of the department.”
Mack said he was fired because he questioned the leadership of former Fire Chief Ed Schaefer, whom he defeated in the recent election, and former Deputy Chief Domonic D’Acquisto, who is now on medical leave from the department.
Mack defeated Schaefer in the election held last month, 17-14.
Schaefer, who remains with the department, did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Repairing problems
Mack said he is already instituting tighter spending and accounting practices.
He hopes to rebuild membership, which has dropped from 65 to 44 in recent years, he said.
The Muskego and Tess Corners Fire Departments both serve the city under contract. A city study on the future course of fire service is ongoing.