Elect fire chief or have a hiring board?

[smokinfire21]

Department size: 40 members
Call volume:227 a year (half of the volume are out of our village)

In the past the bylaws have stated that each year the membership will vote in a Fire Chief. There only minimum requirements are that you be in good standing.
Typically this is usually a popularity contest!!

This year the Village Board had decided to put out an application process in hopes that maybe bringing in someone from the outside who may have more experience than what is being offered from within right now.

As you can guess the membership feels that this is a take over of the fire department. I feel that electing a Chief from within is old school and a way of the past!

Does any one have any views or insight on this subject? Thanks in advance for your help!!

[SPFDRum]

If you truly want to move your department forward, I would highly recommend a hiring board. Set a minimum standard requirement for applications and then a minimum standard to be met with in a certain time frame. Use all parameters; education, time on the job, other positions held, call percentage, and etc.
You can include representatives from the city and your mutual aid departments.
This will ensure your applicants want the job and are willing to work for it.
It also goes a long way in eliminating any good ole boy cliques and popularity contests.

[JayDudley]

Fire Chief

As Fire Commissioner for a large Fire District with 5 stations but with 10 employees and 30 Volunteers I like to say....Have a hiring board. That's what we did and we have the candidates sit before a panel and ask them questions. They present their resumes and complete a testing process. It has worked out with great success. I wish you good luck in finding your ideal Chief....