Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Orono council terminates full-time fire chief, names interim and pauses most new part-time hires
Summary
The Orono City Council approved a resolution terminating its full-time fire chief, adopted a separate resolution thanking him for service, appointed the deputy chief as interim, and voted 4–1 to delay most new part-time firefighter hires while allowing one internal addition.
The Orono City Council voted unanimously to terminate the city’s full-time fire chief and later adopted a resolution of appreciation for his service, then appointed Deputy Chief Shay Biakoski as interim chief.
The decisions came during a staff presentation on reorganizing the Arno Fire Department, which included a recommendation to eliminate the full-time chief position and appoint the deputy in an interim capacity. City Administrator spoke to the council about the proposal and the need to maintain coverage during the transition. A motion to approve resolution 7590, terminating the full-time chief position, passed by voice vote. The council then approved resolution 7591, a resolution of appreciation for James Van Isle’s service.
Councilmembers moved to appoint the deputy as interim chief by motion and vote. “This is an appointment for an interim position… the norm is to take whoever the deputy is and appoint them into the position,” a staff member said, and council approved the interim appointment by voice vote.
On a related personnel matter, the council debated a proposal to hire additional part-time firefighters intended to fill shifts as the department shifts to a modified duty-crew model. Staff told the council they had three recent resignations and were working to integrate Long Lake paid-on-call personnel into scheduling; they said some weekday business-hour shifts have been difficult to staff.
Councilmember Pershing urged caution and recommended delaying hires so the joint leadership can design duty-crew hours before filling slots. Pershing proposed tabling new hires except for one internal appointment. City Administrator warned that repeated postponements risk losing candidates who accept offers and go elsewhere.
After discussion, the council adopted a motion 4–1 to hold off on hiring new part-time firefighters for two weeks but to promote Chris Adams (a current paid-on-call firefighter) to the part-time roster. The motion’s supporter said the exception for Adams would preserve continuity while giving department leadership time to finalize operational details.
The council’s actions leave the department with an interim chief in place and a temporary hiring pause; staff said they would return with updated hiring and scheduling details as the two departments continue to integrate.
