September 2, 2021 at 1:35 p.m.
PFC hires entry level firefighter, waiting on pool of fire chief candidates
PFC hires entry level firefighter, waiting on pool of fire chief candidates
Also interviewed Tuesday was Tanner Perry, who has been serving as a temporary fill-in firefighter at the Rhinelander Fire Department. The commission voted unanimously to tender an offer of employment to Campbell with the usual qualifiers.
"Pending successful completion of psychological, physical and background check," commission chair Todd McEldowney elaborated after the meeting adjourned.
While Perry was not selected for the full-time position, he didn't come away empty-handed in the deal. The PFC also voted unanimously to establish an eligibility list for the entry level firefighter position, and place Perry at the top of that list. He is also going to be retained as an interim firefighter "as long as there is a need." He is currently waiting to start paramedic training, and will continue to gain experience as a firefighter this way, it was pointed out.
While the hiring of Campbell will fill a vacancy in the lower ranks, the PFC is still waiting to fill the position of fire chief.
Josh Schmitz has served as interim chief since the June retirement of former assistant chief Tom Waydick. Waydick took over as interim chief in February following the retirement of Terry Williams. Due to state expenditure restraints, the city could not fill the fire chief position while still paying out accrued sick leave, vacation and other retirement benefits that were not budgeted for this year.
On June 28 the city council approved a new organizational chart that did not include the assistant fire chief position. At that meeting, city administrator Zach Vruwink said the chart was a "point-in-time document" and could be revisited at a future date.
Schmitz, with McEldowney and fellow commissioners Sandy Bergman and Brandon Karaba lending support in the front row of the council gallery, spoke against the elimination of the position, but the chart passed by a 7-1 vote, with Tom Kelly casting the lone dissenting vote.
The department is also short a lieutenant following the departure of Lt. Mike Wesle, who recently accepted the fire chief position in Beaver Dam. According to McEldowney, that position will be filled by promoting someone from within the department.
"It is a budgeted position," Bergman noted Tuesday.
At a council work session Aug. 2, Vruwink told the alderpersons that as of the July 23 deadline for submissions, 15 people had applied for the fire chief position. After the Aug. 31 PFC meeting, McEldowney, Bergman and Tom Gleason were asked about the status of the search process. They said they have not seen the applications yet. When asked if they had been given a reason why they had not heard more about the candidates, McEldowney said he was sent some material.
"It was so overwhelming," he said.
He said historically the PFC has utilized a search firm for filling senior administrative positions. The most recent instance led to the hiring of police chief Lloyd Gauthier. The firm narrows the field of applicants to a "manageable number" to be brought in for interviews by the PFC and a panel made up of area chiefs.
When the PFC will be able to start that part of the process is unknown, however.
"The process should already have started," according to McEldowney.
"When they are done with their winnowing process, it (the remaining applicants) come to us and we have to determine who we are going to interview," he added.
The current eligibility list for entry level firefighters is open to applicants until Sept. 3, and the list will remain in effect for a year. If needed, it can be supplemented by names from any new lists generated later.
Schmitz also said there is another anticipated retirement in January. He was asked if that would bring similar financial concerns for the department budget as Williams' departure.
"Not as significant," Schmitz said. "He doesn't get 100 days of vacation payout."
The city's human resources specialist is leaving as of Sept. 2 "and that should open up some (salary) money that would enable us to continue Tanner until such time as another position opens," McEldowney said.
On Wednesday, Vruwink reported the city has already begun the process of finding someone else to handle human resources duties.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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