FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Fire and town officials are scrambling to find a new fire chief and deputy chief after reporting they are behind schedule for replacements.
Fairfield Citizen reported that the fire commission voted in March not to renew Deputy Fire Chief Art Reid’s contract when it expires in December.
“We would be thrilled if some of our current assistant chiefs stepped up and applied,” First Selectman Michael Tetreau said. “They certainly have a great background and know the town. However, we did open it up to ensure the residents get the best available candidates.”
Reid, who has been deputy chief for 12 years, filed a lawsuit over his contract’s non-renewal.
The timeline for hiring a new deputy fire chief sped up after Fire Chief Richard Felner informed the panel that he did not wish to renew his contract when it expires next year. The panel called for the top 10 candidates to be interviewed by Felner and Tetreau, with the top three interviewed by the beginning of October, according to the report.
Those three names will then be forwarded to the fire commission for a final decision, with the initial plan calling for a new deputy chief to be hired by early next year.
According to the job listing, applications must be received by Oct. 13, and the chosen candidate must be able to start Feb. 1, 2015.
Qualifications for the position, which will have a salary of between $110,000-$130,000 annually, include at least three years as an assistant or deputy chief, or the equivalent, in a similar sized fire department; 10 years of “progressive, responsible experience” in administration, including five years as a fire officer, according to the report.
The new deputy chief is also expected to have a bachelor’s degree in fire service management and public administration, with a master’s degree preferred or “any equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform” the job.
With the departure of Chief Felner next year, the town also needs to fill that position.
“We haven’t started that fully yet,” Tetreau said of the chief search. “It will be similar to what we’re doing for the deputy chief.” He said officials expect to open that search soon, according to the report.
With a new chief and deputy expected to lead the department next year, Tetreau said, “it creates an opportunity for new ideas, new technology and new applications.”