Preston Stark elevated to merit lieutenant at Franklin Fire Merit Commission meeting

The Franklin Fire Merit Commission voted March 10 to elevate Preston Stark to merit lieutenant, filling a merit-rank vacancy created when Lieutenant Ryan Piercefield was medically pensioned in February.

The Fire Chief told commissioners that Piercefield’s medical pension left an open merit lieutenant slot and that the number-one candidate from last year’s lieutenant process was Preston Stark. "Lieutenant Ryan Piercefield was medically pensioned off, at the February. So we have an open lieutenant spot. The, the number 1 from the lieutenant's process we had last year, the number 1 candidate is Preston Stark," the Fire Chief said.

Commissioners discussed the difference between appointed and merit status. The commission president explained that appointed officers are selected by the chief to fill roles when merit-ranked positions are limited or filled, while merit officers hold permanent ranked positions in the department’s merit structure. The chief explained that an appointed lieutenant can carry the title and pay for operational needs but does not occupy merit rank unless elevated through the merit process.

The commission moved and seconded a motion to start Preston Stark’s one-year merit lieutenant status effective March 10; the motion passed with affirming votes recorded as "aye." Commissioners noted an appointed lieutenant (Craig Lutz) accepted a separate appointed assignment for a shift-opening and that a formal swearing-in for Stark is expected at a future meeting, likely the second meeting in April.

The commission did not change policies in this action; it applied the existing merit-list process to fill the open merit rank.