Waukesha council blocks funds for fire chief search

April 18, 2012
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By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

April 18, 2012 0

Waukesha - The search for a new city fire chief is back to square one with the Common Council's refusal to spend $16,900 for a recruiting firm to search for candidates.

The council was split 7-7, Tuesday night and Mayor Jeff Scrima broke the tie, rejecting the payment to Voorhees Associates, the recommended search firm. Ald. Brian White was absent.

Aldermen opposing the expense said they did not see the necessity of paying a consultant to search outside the department for candidates because enough qualified candidates were already within the department.

Ald. Andy Reiland suggested that a new bid be sought from consultants with an aim toward getting assistance in evaluating in-house applicants only. However, Ald. Joan Francoeur pointed out that the Police and Fire Commission, which is politically independent and picks the next chief, can only be offered the suggestion.

Fire Chief Allen LaConte retired in early March after a 34-year career with the city. Steve Howard has been serving as interim chief while the search for a permanent replacement continues.

About Laurel Walker
Laurel Walker covered local, school and county government for 20 years -- the last half of that at the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- before she was named Waukesha County columnist in 1997. Today she writes about the people, places and events around metropolitan Milwaukee with a broad suburban focus. She was the youngest of nine children raised on a central Wisconsin farm before leaving the nest for journalism studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a masters degree at the University of Oregon. She has spent the last half of her life in Waukesha County, where she and her husband raised two sons. Though she has a fondness for life in Waukesha, she eagerly partakes in the culture of the big city to the east and the recreation of the forests to the west. With sons in the arts, she has a special fondness for symphonic music concerts and art museums. She finds peace in a good book at a Northwoods getaway weekend, adventure in family visits to the east and west coasts, and satisfaction in a column well-written that reaches readers.
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