Naked AC is apparently irreplaceable. Job is called an “unnecessary layer of upper management”.
Before we got earned reputation as Springer 911 with the video of the fireworks shot off the moon, we had already dipped our little toe in tabloid waters with the picture above. That’s Kenneth Roe, the now retired assistant chief of the Johnson City (NY) Fire Department. It shows how he celebrated his 20th and last anniversary with the department in November, 2007.
Apparently Chief Roe has some big shoes to fill (but I am guessing not in this picture). The Village of Johnson City is likely to keep the assistant fire chief’s position vacant. At least that’s the sense of the Village board at a meeting Wednesday night.
Currently the chief’s position is also vacant with the fire marshal acting as chief. Former Chief Henry Michalovic was forced to leave in June after a dispute over holiday pay resulted in Mihalovic having to pay back $12,000 on the way out the door. Reading excerpts from the article below off the WBNG-TV website, it isn’t just the assistant chief’s job, it appears everyone may not be so sure a fire chief is needed:
Trustee Dennis Hannon says under the new contract, the assistant fire chief makes close to 90 thousand dollars plus benefits.
The village would save over 100 thousand dollars by leaving the position unfilled.
“The assistant chief’s position is just an unnecessary layer of upper management. And if we do follow through with the promotions that will also deplete a firefighter from the street, from the rank and file, as everyone moves up and that’s not a good thing either.” said Hannon.
No decision was made Wednesday night.
The village attorney also found the village is not legally required to have a fire chief, although trustees don’t expect to even consider getting rid of that position.
The current list of chief officers according to the Johnson City Fire Department website
