Fire Board to seek candidates for fire chief
The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District will be conducting a competitive job search for the District’s fire chief position in the near future by placing job ads with an open announcement that will stretch across the nation.
In preparation, the FMB Board of Fire Commissioners approved a new fire chief position description after updating description language in an effort to modify the document before entertaining applications for the job this fall. The baseline of the new job description somewhat mirrors the Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service District.
According to his contract, current Fire Chief Darren White’s three-year contract term ends Sept. 30, 2015 and “automatically renews for one period of two years provided neither party submits a written notice of termination to the other party at least 90 days prior to Sept. 30, 2015.” In other words, White would remain fire chief “at will” if no action is taken, or his contract could be renewed.
But, action may be taken.
“We have a habit of moving people into positions without having them competitively apply,” said Fire Board Chairperson Carol Morris. “(The fire chief job) is a top notch position. I personally think it is good for overall morale to have people get into a position because they competitively apply and were selected.”
White was assistant fire chief and became acting chief when former Beach Fire Chief Mike Becker was dismissed from his position. The Fire Board later dropped the “acting” from his title. Beach Fire records state his annual salary was $120,000 at his signing on Oct. 1, 2012, and that he received a three percent increase on Oct. 1, 2014.
In updating the fire chief position description, fire commissioner discussions centered on cleaning language to better fit District standards since the current document dealt with more of a generic position description. Some “essential duties and tasks” that did not apply to the District were deleted, and education requirements (both required and preferred) were debated.
Effective Oct. 1, 2015, a fire chief candidate is required to possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in fire science and/or public administration. A master’s degree is listed under preferred education.
White is currently finishing his bachelor’s degree requirements and stated he would obtain his diploma prior to the end of his current contract.
“I will fulfill the obligation of my contract,” he said.
Morris explained White’s promotion to fire chief came with a caveat.
“The members of the board decided to adjust the position description to accommodate the fact that he didn’t have a bachelor’s degree then put him into the position,” she said. “They said they would give him the amount of time to complete his bachelor’s degree.”
Since being in office, Chief White has never received an evaluation from the fire commissioners to determine his value and worth to the District. Commissioner Bob Raymond believes periodic evaluations are necessary.
“I don’t think it’s been fair to the board or the chief,” said Raymond, who pitched a one-year contract and two 6-month evaluations to a worthy candidate as an option.
Commissioner Larry Wood questioned the need for a competitive job search and thought a one-year extension to White’s contract could be a suitable course of action.
“If we were to extend the contract for a year, then we could set very high expectations and evaluate the person that is in the job,” he said. “If that person is not capable of moving ahead or making the changes that we require, then he is out. I have a hard time getting rid of somebody (without following) due process.”
In reading off his contract, White stated that an evaluation should occur “at least once annually in advance of the adoption of the District annual operating budget” and that it should be a two-step process that involves: 1) each commissioner meeting with the chief on an individual basis to discuss their personal evaluation; and 2) a collective review of the commissioners’ evaluation in a public board of commissioners meeting.
The Fire Board approved to perform an evaluation process on White and hold a public meeting to discuss evaluations on July 21. Individual meetings must take place prior to that date.
White has 15 years of service at Beach Fire. Experience requirement in the job description document states a minimum of 12 years of fire service and a minimum of five years of supervisory-level experience.
District records state fire chiefs are appointed by the Fire Board and may or may not have an employment contract. The head of the fire department provides leadership and administrative direction to district personnel and activities as well as being the spokesperson for the district and reports to the Board on all financial, operations and actions of the fire district.