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FPC debates giving commission authority to set fire chief recruitment pay amid tight timeline
Summary
Commissioners discussed a proposed amendment to the salary ordinance to give the Fire and Police Commission the same recruitment-flexibility footnote already used for the police chief. Debate centered on preserving independent oversight, the common council's budget authority, and a narrow timetable before the current fire chief's term ends May 17.
The Fire and Police Commission spent a sustained portion of its Feb. 19 meeting discussing a proposed amendment to the city salary ordinance that would give the commission explicit authority to recruit and set an incoming fire chief’s pay at any point within the council-set range.
The proposal, introduced in the Common Council by Ald. Charlotte Moore, would mirror an existing footnote for the police chief. As drafted, it would allow the FPC to set the recruitment rate anywhere inside the pay range without an automatic requirement for approval by the council’s Finance and Personnel (F&P) committee; at least one alder indicated they would prefer retaining F&P oversight.
Chair Commissioner Horowitz and Executive Director Leon Todd described the legal and practical tension: the council sets pay ranges, but the FPC is charged with recruiting and appointing chiefs. Commissioners weighing the amendment asked whether giving the FPC identical authority to recruit at any rate would undermine the council’s budget oversight; they discussed a fallback where the FPC would set a recruitment rate but the F&P chair would have sign-off to preserve budgetary review.
Timing heightened the stakes. Commissioners noted Fire Chief Lipsky’s term ends May 17, creating a narrow window to pass any ordinance modification and avoid starting a chief search constrained to minimum-range offers. Commissioner Spence urged a fallback path that would allow some movement toward parity with police-chief rules without risking committee blockage that could delay an appointment.
The commission did not vote on a formal position; the chair said she planned to meet with Ald. Moore and seek a pragmatic compromise. Commissioners asked staff to continue outreach to council committee leaders so the file could move through an upcoming council cycle if possible.
What’s next: Staff will continue discussions with alder offices and the commission’s executive director to identify a viable amendment or fallback language to present to council committees before the May appointment window.
