Over two dozen applicants for fire chief position
Jim Steffins
Jim Steffens, of JTS Associates in Bradenton, said he is very pleased with the number of applicants who have applied for the Lehigh Acres fire chief job.
He said 26 people have applied and now the long step of interviewing is expected to take place on June 20 and 21 by a special selection panel.
Before a new chief is hired, the process will include screenings, meetings with a selection committee and, finally, a public meeting where residents can meet the finalists.
It all leads to a final vote by the fire district’s board of commissioners.
“There are 16 people who applied for the position from Florida, one from England and the rest from across the country,” Steffens said. “It looks like a good list of applicants.”
Bo Turbeville
Out of those who applied, he will select a list of 14 to 15 applicants, who will be notified about an interview in Lehigh.
Steffens will reduce the list by choosing those who meet the requirements of the fire district as listed in national advertising.
A small group of local leaders has been selected to screen the applications. They include two out-of-county fire chiefs, a Lehigh Acres minister, Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce Chairman Mark Burgers and Bo Turbeville, an area businessman and Lehigh community service leader.
In addition, Steffens said the two union leaders should be on the list.
Steffens says the purpose of the committee would be to select from three to five candidates and recommend those applicants to the board of commissioners.
Mark Burgers
Steffens said the applicants will stay at the Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lehigh.
The ones selected would also get a tour of Lehigh and an opportunity to meet with staff of the fire district and local residents.
A time would be selected for the final screened applicants to return to Lehigh, and Steffens suggested that the board of commissioners offer some type of reimbursement for their stay for the final interviews and meetings with the board.
Steffens said it could take a few days and cost from a few hundred dollars to $1,000, depending on their length of stay.
Steffens said he would meet with board members to discuss the type of questioning to take place.
Board attorney Richard Pringle will also work with commissioners on the types of questions they could ask the applicants. Certain questions may not be asked to meet legal requirements, he said.
Fire Chief John R. Wayne is retiring on July 4.
The selection committee will meet on June 20 and 21 at 8 a.m. in the Main Conference Room at the Microtel, at 1320 Business Way.
While the department will be without a chief, two highly ranked battalion fire chiefs will operate the department.
The board voted to pay Steffens $12,500 for his work in helping the department to find a new chief.
Commissioner Linda Carter suggested that the board use national advertising for the search.
“We want to get someone away from here, maybe so that when they come to work, they may want to stay here for a while and make Lehigh their home,” she said.
The commissioners are David Adams, Larry Becker, Chairman Cathy Kruze and Matt Smith.
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- Bo Turbeville
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- Mark Burgers
Over two dozen applicants for fire chief position
Jim Steffins
Jim Steffens, of JTS Associates in Bradenton, said he is very pleased with the number of applicants who have applied for the Lehigh Acres fire chief job.
He said 26 people have applied and now the long step of interviewing is expected to take place on June 20 and 21 by a special selection panel.
Before a new chief is hired, the process will include screenings, meetings with a selection committee and, finally, a public meeting where residents can meet the finalists.
It all leads to a final vote by the fire district’s board of commissioners.
“There are 16 people who applied for the position from Florida, one from England and the rest from across the country,” Steffens said. “It looks like a good list of applicants.”
Bo Turbeville
Out of those who applied, he will select a list of 14 to 15 applicants, who will be notified about an interview in Lehigh.
Steffens will reduce the list by choosing those who meet the requirements of the fire district as listed in national advertising.
A small group of local leaders has been selected to screen the applications. They include two out-of-county fire chiefs, a Lehigh Acres minister, Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce Chairman Mark Burgers and Bo Turbeville, an area businessman and Lehigh community service leader.
In addition, Steffens said the two union leaders should be on the list.
Steffens says the purpose of the committee would be to select from three to five candidates and recommend those applicants to the board of commissioners.
Mark Burgers
Steffens said the applicants will stay at the Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lehigh.
The ones selected would also get a tour of Lehigh and an opportunity to meet with staff of the fire district and local residents.
A time would be selected for the final screened applicants to return to Lehigh, and Steffens suggested that the board of commissioners offer some type of reimbursement for their stay for the final interviews and meetings with the board.
Steffens said it could take a few days and cost from a few hundred dollars to $1,000, depending on their length of stay.
Steffens said he would meet with board members to discuss the type of questioning to take place.
Board attorney Richard Pringle will also work with commissioners on the types of questions they could ask the applicants. Certain questions may not be asked to meet legal requirements, he said.
Fire Chief John R. Wayne is retiring on July 4.
The selection committee will meet on June 20 and 21 at 8 a.m. in the Main Conference Room at the Microtel, at 1320 Business Way.
While the department will be without a chief, two highly ranked battalion fire chiefs will operate the department.
The board voted to pay Steffens $12,500 for his work in helping the department to find a new chief.
Commissioner Linda Carter suggested that the board use national advertising for the search.
“We want to get someone away from here, maybe so that when they come to work, they may want to stay here for a while and make Lehigh their home,” she said.
The commissioners are David Adams, Larry Becker, Chairman Cathy Kruze and Matt Smith.
-
- Bo Turbeville
-
- Mark Burgers
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