Commissioners name Dilallo as interim fire chief
Rob Dilallo
Rob Dilallo, a 25-year firefighter, is facing his second week as supervisor of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District after being appointed interim fire chief by the board of commissioners.
On Aug. 19 at a special meeting, Dilallo was asked if he would accept the position and his answer was “yes.”
A battalion chief, he and another battalion chief have been helping to operate the district following the retirement of Fire Chief John R. Wayne on July 4.
“I’ve heard good things about you,” Commissioner Larry Becker said.
A nearly hour-long discussion went back and forth before Dilallo was asked if he would take up the job until a new chief could be hired.
It was suggested that some of the applicants, who had applied during the job search several weeks back and not been selected, be told they could re-apply for the job.
How the hiring process will come about was not discussed.
Commissioner Linda Carter said it was time to get an interim chief and that there are people in Lehigh who could step up and run the department for a temporary time.
The board discussed Dilallo serving as interim chief for three to six months.
Union leaders at the meeting did not object to him serving as interim fire chief.
Commissioner Cathy Kruse pushed for three months and said it was her hope that a full-time fire chief be hired in that time. Kruse offered little information as to why she thought in three months’ time a new chief could be employed.
Others on the board opted for six months, saying the hiring process would take longer.
Three of the fire board members – Becker, Kruze and Commissioner David Adams – will vacate their seats in the Nov. 8 election. Of the three, Kruze is the only one seeking re-election.
Also at the meeting, the board voted to end the contract with JTS Associates and Jim Steffens of Bradenton who had been hired to help find a new fire chief.
They also voted to send a $12,500 check to JTS Associates for payment to Steffens.
The previous search netted 26 applicants for fire chief.
In addition to the $12,500, extra money were paid to a local hotel to house some of the applicants who were invited to Lehigh for interviews. Some 14 to 15 applicants were interviewed.
No one fit all the job qualifications, which brought a comment from Becker that no one is going to have a perfect job record.
Dilallo will be paid a salary of $130,000 to $132,000 to serve as the interim fire chief
Discussion on raising his pay from the battalion chief level came up at the end of the meeting.
Commissioners discussed the job requirements for the new chief that they had previously come up with with Steffens. In the list was having a bachelor’s degree.
Becker noted that not everyone with a bachelor’s degree is “more educated” than those without one.
That does not mean that Dilallo cannot apply for the permanent position of fire chief.
Becker noted that if that was the board’s requirement, maybe Dilallo could pursue his degree.
Dilallo told The Lehigh Acres Citizen after the meeting that he had several credits he could put toward a bachelor’s degree.
When the commissioners asked what Wayne did when he was away, they were told he would name someone to take over his responsibilities.
The firefighters at the meeting said it always worked.
Commissioners name Dilallo as interim fire chief
Rob Dilallo
Rob Dilallo, a 25-year firefighter, is facing his second week as supervisor of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District after being appointed interim fire chief by the board of commissioners.
On Aug. 19 at a special meeting, Dilallo was asked if he would accept the position and his answer was “yes.”
A battalion chief, he and another battalion chief have been helping to operate the district following the retirement of Fire Chief John R. Wayne on July 4.
“I’ve heard good things about you,” Commissioner Larry Becker said.
A nearly hour-long discussion went back and forth before Dilallo was asked if he would take up the job until a new chief could be hired.
It was suggested that some of the applicants, who had applied during the job search several weeks back and not been selected, be told they could re-apply for the job.
How the hiring process will come about was not discussed.
Commissioner Linda Carter said it was time to get an interim chief and that there are people in Lehigh who could step up and run the department for a temporary time.
The board discussed Dilallo serving as interim chief for three to six months.
Union leaders at the meeting did not object to him serving as interim fire chief.
Commissioner Cathy Kruse pushed for three months and said it was her hope that a full-time fire chief be hired in that time. Kruse offered little information as to why she thought in three months’ time a new chief could be employed.
Others on the board opted for six months, saying the hiring process would take longer.
Three of the fire board members – Becker, Kruze and Commissioner David Adams – will vacate their seats in the Nov. 8 election. Of the three, Kruze is the only one seeking re-election.
Also at the meeting, the board voted to end the contract with JTS Associates and Jim Steffens of Bradenton who had been hired to help find a new fire chief.
They also voted to send a $12,500 check to JTS Associates for payment to Steffens.
The previous search netted 26 applicants for fire chief.
In addition to the $12,500, extra money were paid to a local hotel to house some of the applicants who were invited to Lehigh for interviews. Some 14 to 15 applicants were interviewed.
No one fit all the job qualifications, which brought a comment from Becker that no one is going to have a perfect job record.
Dilallo will be paid a salary of $130,000 to $132,000 to serve as the interim fire chief
Discussion on raising his pay from the battalion chief level came up at the end of the meeting.
Commissioners discussed the job requirements for the new chief that they had previously come up with with Steffens. In the list was having a bachelor’s degree.
Becker noted that not everyone with a bachelor’s degree is “more educated” than those without one.
That does not mean that Dilallo cannot apply for the permanent position of fire chief.
Becker noted that if that was the board’s requirement, maybe Dilallo could pursue his degree.
Dilallo told The Lehigh Acres Citizen after the meeting that he had several credits he could put toward a bachelor’s degree.
When the commissioners asked what Wayne did when he was away, they were told he would name someone to take over his responsibilities.
The firefighters at the meeting said it always worked.
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