Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Fire Department topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Millville honors retiring fire chief; new chief, captain and firefighter sworn in
Summary
The Millville City Board of Commissioners presented a proclamation honoring Fire Chief Michael Lippincott’s retirement and recorded the swearing-in of John Francis Whetzstein III as fire chief, Scott Haley as captain and a newly sworn firefighter identified as Nick.
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Millville on March 4 read a proclamation honoring longtime Fire Chief Michael Lippincott and recorded the ceremonial swearing-in of John Francis Whetzstein III as the department’s new fire chief. The meeting also included oath ceremonies for Scott Haley as fire captain and a newly sworn firefighter identified in the transcript only by the name Nick.
The proclamation, presented by Commissioner Hewitt, said Lippincott retired effective March 1, 2025, after 20 years of service to Millville and after 14 years as a volunteer before joining the department on Dec. 5, 2004. The proclamation noted Lippincott’s promotions to captain on Oct. 9, 2008, and to fire chief on June 1, 2015, and described his long service to the city.
The recognition provides formal notice of the department leadership change. Commissioner Hewitt introduced the presentation and read the proclamation text into the record. The proclamation text recorded in the meeting states it was adopted March 4, 2025, and signed by the mayor and the commissioners.
Retiring Chief Michael Lippincott spoke briefly during the ceremony, saying, “Not gonna give any speeches ... I'm proud of that. Thank you. And, of course, the biggest thanks goes to my wife.”
John Francis Whetzstein III took the oath of office during the meeting. The transcript records him saying his name clearly as part of the oath. During the oath, Whetzstein affirmed his duty to the constitutions of the United States and New Jersey and stated he would “faithfully, impartially and justly perform all the duties of the office of fire chief.” The ceremony included family members for both the outgoing and incoming chiefs.
Captain Scott Haley was also sworn in; the transcript records a formal oath for Haley and remarks acknowledging family in attendance. A ceremony similarly recorded oath language for a newly appointed firefighter identified in the transcript as Nick; the transcript does not provide a full last name for that individual.
The meeting also included brief congratulatory remarks from commissioners and department members. Near the end of the recorded segment, a motion for recess was made and seconded; the transcript ends before a recorded vote on that motion.
The personnel changes recorded in the meeting are ceremonial as presented in the minutes: a proclamation recognizing Lippincott’s retirement and oath ceremonies for the incoming chief, a promoted captain and a new firefighter. The transcript does not show a recorded roll-call vote for the appointments during this portion of the meeting.
