By Tracy Jordan
Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
Copyright 2006 The Morning Call, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Easton Fire Chief Frank Chisesi has been promising his church for several years he would help remodel the restrooms.
After today, he’ll finally have the time.
Chisesi, 58, an Easton-area native who lives in Forks Township, is working his last day as fire chief today. He is retiring after 32 years with the department, the last 12 as chief.
“For me it’s been an incredible journey,” Chisesi said after announcing his retirement earlier this month. “I discovered that being a firefighter was not just a job — it was a way of life.”
But the job, particularly while holding the rank of chief, has not been without stress. It’s also been marked by criticism from some of the firefighters in the 41-member department.
One of the first correspondences Mayor Phil Mitman received after he took office in January 2004 was a letter from the firefighters labor union, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 713. The letter told the mayor the union members had given Chisesi a vote of “no confidence.” It was at least the second such vote during Chisesi’s tenure.
Mitman ignored it, choosing instead to stand by Chisesi despite not knowing him personally or professionally.
At Chisesi’s retirement announcement, Mitman and other elected officials had nothing but praise.
“I didn’t know Frank Chisesi well coming into office,” Mitman said. “I’ve since learned a lot about the man. He is, in my opinion, a man of integrity and outstanding character. We can trust what he says.”
Council President Sandra Vulcano, who has been on council five years, said she found Chisesi “has always been fair. He’s always been consistent. And he’s always had the city at heart.”
Chisesi, who grew up just outside of Easton in Palmer Township, graduated from Easton Area High School in 1966. He is a Vietnam War veteran and worked as a car salesman before becoming a firefighter in 1974. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1987 and to captain two years later.
“Thirty-two years is a long time, and it’s a very stressful job. It really is,” Chisesi said. “It really brings home how your life can change in an instant. You’re sitting there nice and calm, and when the bell goes off you never know what’s going to happen. You’re always thinking, “When is the bell going to hit?”’
Chisesi has never suffered a serious on-the-job injury. And he’s never lost a firefighter responding to a call as chief. Also, because of the department’s fast response from three stations covering the 4.32-square-mile city, buildings rarely are totally destroyed, he said. But the department is busy, with 2,353 calls in 2005.
Some firefighters fault Chisesi for not updating equipment and not expanding training, particularly to groom new leaders.
Firefighters point to the failing grades of all six firefighters who took the most-recent promotional test for lieutenant as an indication of the department’s lack of training.
“This is something that’s been going on for a few years,” said firefighter John McKenna, president of Local 713. “The guys have been looking for some guidance and training to become an officer.”
Firefighters Terrance Hand and Matt Keim said the department also lacks basic safety and maintenance protocols for the equipment.
Hand points to the fact he recently drove the ladder truck out of the central fire station and tore off the garage door, which had a safety mechanism to prevent it from closing on a vehicle or person until it was removed instead of repaired two years ago.
Chisesi said his efforts in those areas have been stymied because of the city’s limited finances and City Council’s decision to direct money to other areas, such as the Police Department.
“I’m not completely disagreeing with them,” Chisesi said.
Chisesi said he has requested additional officers for training for the last several years, but those requests have been turned down. But, he said, firefighters who are interested in being promoted need to show initiative by seeking training on their own time.
As far as equipment, Chisesi said, in the last three or four years the department has obtained more equipment than in recent history.
After not purchasing a new vehicle since 1998, the city borrowed $440,000 in 2004 to buy a new pumper and three other vehicles.
The department also obtained grants and funding for a new rescue boat and infrared cameras and equipment to rescue people from collapsed buildings and trenches.
And for the first time, the department’s next fire chief, Deputy Chief John Bast, has had a chance to make a smooth transition into the leadership position, Chisesi said. Chisesi was tapped for the job in 1994 by Mayor Goldsmith after Chief Fred May suddenly stepped down because of personal problems. He went from being a captain on a Friday to being police chief on Monday.
“The last chief cleaned out the office file cabinets, and it was a year process just to figure out where things were,” Chisesi said. “This is the first time in the 32 years I’ve been here that we’ve ever had any type of plan for who is going to take over when the chief leaves.”
But Chisesi said he has no definite plans for himself beyond remodeling the bathrooms at First Moravian Church on N. 10th Street.
“I’m going to look around and see what’s available and explore the possibilities,” Chisesi said. “I’ve done this for 32 years, and I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.”