Lehigh fire board studies revisions, qualifications
Robert Dilallo
The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District’s board discussed the criteria for the new fire chief and passed the new fiscal year’s budget at its September meeting.
The Board of Fire Commissioners voted to approve the 2016-17 budget to the tune of approximately $15.5 million. Last year’s budget was about $15.3 million.
Larry Tibbs, the district’s financial director, said the department was back to a full-time basis.
Commissioner Linda Carter called the budget a “bare-bones budget.”
No one from the audience spoke on the budget during the public comment section of the meeting.
Full details of the budget will be available online at: www.lehighfd.com/.
Interim Fire Chief Robert Dilallo was recently named acting chief following the board’s unsuccessful attempt to name a new chief from a list of previous candidates.
The district spent $12,000-plus on a hiring consultant, but none of the finalists for the job worked out. Two months ago, the district ended its contact with the consultant.
The board has now turned its thoughts to hiring from within to fill the position.
Dilallo was asked to serve as interim chief for a few months while the board comes up with a list of requirements that it wants the chief and other top positions to possess.
Commissioners will decide on educational criteria and more for each position.
During the meeting, two district union members spoke before the board. They said that the employees under Dilallo are happy with him and his leadership.
Asked if he is interested in the chief position, Dilallo said he is.
He would have to comply with the new set of requirements that the board is currently deciding.
Many of the revisions were used in a compilation of earlier reports by Carter and much of it was presented at the last meeting.
The commissioners said the district should use a strict policy regarding educational requirements for each job. That way, when existing employees are interested in a promotion, they are aware of what criteria they must meet.
The discussion was then tabled until a future date because the last meeting of the current sitting board will be held this month.
Three seats are in the Nov. 8 general election. Commissioners David Adams and Larry Becker are vacating their seats, while Cathy Kruse is seeking re-election.
Lehigh fire board studies revisions, qualifications
Robert Dilallo
The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District’s board discussed the criteria for the new fire chief and passed the new fiscal year’s budget at its September meeting.
The Board of Fire Commissioners voted to approve the 2016-17 budget to the tune of approximately $15.5 million. Last year’s budget was about $15.3 million.
Larry Tibbs, the district’s financial director, said the department was back to a full-time basis.
Commissioner Linda Carter called the budget a “bare-bones budget.”
No one from the audience spoke on the budget during the public comment section of the meeting.
Full details of the budget will be available online at: www.lehighfd.com/.
Interim Fire Chief Robert Dilallo was recently named acting chief following the board’s unsuccessful attempt to name a new chief from a list of previous candidates.
The district spent $12,000-plus on a hiring consultant, but none of the finalists for the job worked out. Two months ago, the district ended its contact with the consultant.
The board has now turned its thoughts to hiring from within to fill the position.
Dilallo was asked to serve as interim chief for a few months while the board comes up with a list of requirements that it wants the chief and other top positions to possess.
Commissioners will decide on educational criteria and more for each position.
During the meeting, two district union members spoke before the board. They said that the employees under Dilallo are happy with him and his leadership.
Asked if he is interested in the chief position, Dilallo said he is.
He would have to comply with the new set of requirements that the board is currently deciding.
Many of the revisions were used in a compilation of earlier reports by Carter and much of it was presented at the last meeting.
The commissioners said the district should use a strict policy regarding educational requirements for each job. That way, when existing employees are interested in a promotion, they are aware of what criteria they must meet.
The discussion was then tabled until a future date because the last meeting of the current sitting board will be held this month.
Three seats are in the Nov. 8 general election. Commissioners David Adams and Larry Becker are vacating their seats, while Cathy Kruse is seeking re-election.
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