ROCKLAND, Maine — Rockland firefighters are committed to their department and the people they serve, the interim fire chief said Friday.
The statement was made in reaction to a city councilor questioning the commitment of firefighters to the department during Wednesday night’s council meeting.
At the time, the City Council was in the midst of another budget review and discussing whether to fill the vacant position of fire chief. The city has not filled the post since Charles Jordan Jr. retired in May 2014. Assistant Chief Adam Miceli has served as both interim chief and assistant chief during the past year.
City Manager James Chaousis renewed his request Wednesday night that the position be filled in the 2015-2016 budget.
City Councilor Valli Geiger said she was bothered that no one wants to step up and apply for the job of fire chief.
“I’d like to know, is there a morale problem? Is there a lack of commitment to the department there?” Geiger asked.
The councilor also asked how many firefighters live in Rockland.
“Or does everyone live outside of Rockland and pay much less in property tax?” Geiger asked.
The councilor said Rockland is one of the few departments locally with a professional fire department. The Rockland department has three assistant chiefs, three lieutenants and nine firefighters. The firefighters also serve as emergency medical personnel.
City Manager James Chaousis said everyone in the department has stepped up and taken on added responsibilities since Jordan retired. Chief Miceli agreed when contacted Friday.
He said that because the position has not been filled, some duties are not being done internally. For example, he said, some grants are not being sought and training opportunities are being missed.
“But the people outside these doors who are in need during an emergency will never see any difference,” Miceli stressed.
Most of the department’s firefighters live outside Rockland, but the labor contract with the association only requires employees live in Knox County. That has been changed over the years from a more restrictive radius requirement, Miceli said, but the earlier policies had cost the department good employees who did not want to sell homes outside the Rockland area in order to work for the department.
Chaousis said any lack of stated interest by firefighters for the chief’s job, which has not been advertised, is likely because the job of chief is much different than being a firefighter or an assistant chief because it requires being an administrator and politician.
“It takes a special person to be a fire chief,” Chaousis said.
Councilor Larry Pritchett agreed, saying that when Jordan stepped down as chief there was a long list of people who wanted him to run for the City Council because he was a highly competent politician.
Miceli said he wasn’t sure yet whether he would apply for the position when it is advertised.
The councilors made no decision Wednesday on filling the fire chief position. The council is scheduled to continue its budget review over the next several weeks. A preliminary vote on the budget is scheduled for May 27 and a final vote could be held either June 22 or June 24.