Final applicants for fire chief to return in July
A special screening committee spent two days interviewing applicants who applied for the top job of fire chief of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District.
On June 21, Jim Steffens had final names after screenings by a seven-member panel.
Steffens is a consultant from Bradenton, who was hired by the fire commissioners for $12,500 to aid in the search for a new chief to replace Chief John R. Wayne.
Wayne retires on July 4.
The group advanced four names and Steffens gave the names to the commissioners at last week’s fire board meeting. They were Michael Choate, Stephen McInerny, Stephen Paulsell and James Tobin.
Steffens said two are from Florida and two are from out of state.
The commissioners will invite the applicants to return to Lehigh on July 12 for a tour of the area and to meet firefighters and the public.
The next morning, the applicants will meet one-on-one with each of the five commissioners – David Adams, Larry Becker, Linda Carter, Cathy Kruse and Matt Smith.
Before the interviews, the commission will be advised on questioning techniques. At 5 p.m., the board will meet for a public meeting and may make a decision.
The public can make comments at the meeting concerning the applicants. After the choice has been made, the board will negotiate with the prospective new chief.
Steffens said more than two dozen applicants sent in resumes for consideration. The job was advertised nationally.
The cost of the applicants spending a couple of nights at a local hotel is estimated to be about $59 and will be covered by the district.
Steffens suggested that the board could cover additional expenses, such as meals.
“We may find out that it is so late on the second night here that an applicant can’t leave and the district should pay for that expense, too,” he said.
Steffens noted that all the meetings with the applicants are public, except for the one-on-one meetings with the commissioners.
“Nobody can be in that room but the commissioner and the applicant and a list of suggested questions will be asked to each applicant,” he said.
As far as preparing the department’s budget for next year, staff should be done this week and a public workshop will be scheduled for July 19 at 1 p.m. at Station 104, at 3102 S.W. 16th St.
Before the regular meeting on Aug. 30, the board will meet at 4 p.m. for another workshop. The regular meeting begins at 5 p.m.
The fire commissioners must pass the annual budget in September.
Final applicants for fire chief to return in July
A special screening committee spent two days interviewing applicants who applied for the top job of fire chief of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District.
On June 21, Jim Steffens had final names after screenings by a seven-member panel.
Steffens is a consultant from Bradenton, who was hired by the fire commissioners for $12,500 to aid in the search for a new chief to replace Chief John R. Wayne.
Wayne retires on July 4.
The group advanced four names and Steffens gave the names to the commissioners at last week’s fire board meeting. They were Michael Choate, Stephen McInerny, Stephen Paulsell and James Tobin.
Steffens said two are from Florida and two are from out of state.
The commissioners will invite the applicants to return to Lehigh on July 12 for a tour of the area and to meet firefighters and the public.
The next morning, the applicants will meet one-on-one with each of the five commissioners – David Adams, Larry Becker, Linda Carter, Cathy Kruse and Matt Smith.
Before the interviews, the commission will be advised on questioning techniques. At 5 p.m., the board will meet for a public meeting and may make a decision.
The public can make comments at the meeting concerning the applicants. After the choice has been made, the board will negotiate with the prospective new chief.
Steffens said more than two dozen applicants sent in resumes for consideration. The job was advertised nationally.
The cost of the applicants spending a couple of nights at a local hotel is estimated to be about $59 and will be covered by the district.
Steffens suggested that the board could cover additional expenses, such as meals.
“We may find out that it is so late on the second night here that an applicant can’t leave and the district should pay for that expense, too,” he said.
Steffens noted that all the meetings with the applicants are public, except for the one-on-one meetings with the commissioners.
“Nobody can be in that room but the commissioner and the applicant and a list of suggested questions will be asked to each applicant,” he said.
As far as preparing the department’s budget for next year, staff should be done this week and a public workshop will be scheduled for July 19 at 1 p.m. at Station 104, at 3102 S.W. 16th St.
Before the regular meeting on Aug. 30, the board will meet at 4 p.m. for another workshop. The regular meeting begins at 5 p.m.
The fire commissioners must pass the annual budget in September.
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