The search for a new South Milwaukee fire chief will take longer than expected.
The Police and Fire Commission, at its meeting this week, directed City Administrator Tami Mayzik to re-advertise the vacant fire chief position in hopes of receiving a wider selection of applications from qualified candidates.
The new deadline for applications will be May 18.
As you’ll recall, Chief Jay Behling retired earlier this year.
I will keep you posted as developments warrant.
As you may have seen in today’s Journal Sentinel, the Police and Fire Commission has approved the hiring of Ryan Behling, son of outgoing Chief Jay Behling, as a full-time firefighter.
You can read the story here.
The City Council will vote tonight to recognize the hiring and place Ryan Behling, a paid on-call firefighter with the department for more than six years, in the proper pay range.
I’d like to know what you think of the hiring, which has drawn criticism from the firefighters union. Post your comments below..
Filed under City Council
Update: The City Council accepted Chief Behling’s letter of resignation at its meeting Tuesday night and approved his request for a residency exemption.
South Milwaukee Fire Chief Jay Behling will retire effective Jan. 31 after six years in the role.
The item is on the City Council agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, as well as his request for an exemption to the city’s residency requirements. Chief Behling wants to move outside of the city until he retires.
I wish Chief Behling the best.
While he certainly has not been without controversy, I have enjoyed getting to know Jay over the past 18 months and respect the job he has done in leading the department and our emergency management efforts. Our fire (and police) forces are first-class and, with budgets tight and resources limited, they truly know what it is like to do “more with less.”
I’ll keep you posted on the next steps here, including the search for a replacement. The Police and Fire Commission will do the actual hiring, and they are meeting on this issue Tuesday at City Hall. Here is the agenda.
I’d also like to know what you think about the news. Post your comments below.
Filed under Fire
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