ROCKLAND, Maine — Multiple candidates within the Rockland Fire Department have applied to become the next fire chief, the city manager said Tuesday.
But the next chief will not be the person who has served as interim chief for the past two years.
Interim Chief Adam Miceli said Tuesday that he decided not to seek the post. He said he wants to work in the department for another 10 years and that this would be too long a time to work as chief.
He also said he wants to spend more time on his personal life and work at home, which would be more difficult if he remained as chief.
Miceli has served as acting chief for the past two years as a budget saving measure by city leaders. He was hired by the city in December 1995 and was promoted to assistant chief in May 2001 before being named acting chief after Charles Jordan Jr. resigned in May 2014.
City Manager James Chaousis did not want to give an exact number of applicants for the position until a local promotions board has had a chance to review the candidates. The position has only been posted internally, and all of the applicants are from within the department.
The board will consist of members of the city’s personnel board, code enforcement office and Fire Department leaders and will assist Chaousis in the selection process. The manager said he hopes to have an appointment to present to the City Council about the same time he unveils the proposed 2016-17 budget. The budget release date is April 20.
“I’m excited that this process will result in concluding the difficult period without the leader of this department,” Chaousis said in his weekly manager’s report. “Everything that Chief Miceli has done in the interim is amazing, but I feel he needs assurances of the future for personal and professional reasons.”