Post by district5 on Jul 1, 2010 21:03:26 GMT -5
Cincinnati.Com » Government
Last Updated: 5:10 pm | Thursday, July 1, 2010
City fire chief will retire
By Jane Prendergast • jprendergast@enquirer.com • July 1, 2010
Cincinnati's looking for a new fire chief.
Chief Robert Wright will retire by Jan. 15, the city announced Thursday. Wright has been with the Fire Department since 1973, the last 12 years as chief. A national search has begun to give the city enough time to find the right person for the job and allow for a transition, according to a statement released by City Manager Milton Dohoney's office.
"I thank Chief Wright for his years of service and look forward to hiring a man or woman who can build upon his legacy," Dohoney said in the statement.
It has been expected that both Wright and Police Chief Tom Streicher will retire next year since both of them are in the state Deferred Retirement Option Program. Both signed up when DROP became available for public safety employees in Ohio in early 2003. The program requires an employee stay no longer than eight years, which would be early 2011.
Wright can walk away with about $900,000 from the program, which allows him to simultaneously draw a paycheck and bank a deferred pension. He earned more than $125,000 last year.
The advertisement for Wright's replacement is on the city's Website at tinyurl.com/2axgpov. It seeks an "innovative, politically astute, strong leader with a legacy of integrity and professional competence."
The fire department employs about 840 firefighters and operates with a general fund budget of $68 million.
The "priority deadline" for applications is Aug. 15, but the city said the job would remain open until filled.
Last Updated: 5:10 pm | Thursday, July 1, 2010
City fire chief will retire
By Jane Prendergast • jprendergast@enquirer.com • July 1, 2010
Cincinnati's looking for a new fire chief.
Chief Robert Wright will retire by Jan. 15, the city announced Thursday. Wright has been with the Fire Department since 1973, the last 12 years as chief. A national search has begun to give the city enough time to find the right person for the job and allow for a transition, according to a statement released by City Manager Milton Dohoney's office.
"I thank Chief Wright for his years of service and look forward to hiring a man or woman who can build upon his legacy," Dohoney said in the statement.
It has been expected that both Wright and Police Chief Tom Streicher will retire next year since both of them are in the state Deferred Retirement Option Program. Both signed up when DROP became available for public safety employees in Ohio in early 2003. The program requires an employee stay no longer than eight years, which would be early 2011.
Wright can walk away with about $900,000 from the program, which allows him to simultaneously draw a paycheck and bank a deferred pension. He earned more than $125,000 last year.
The advertisement for Wright's replacement is on the city's Website at tinyurl.com/2axgpov. It seeks an "innovative, politically astute, strong leader with a legacy of integrity and professional competence."
The fire department employs about 840 firefighters and operates with a general fund budget of $68 million.
The "priority deadline" for applications is Aug. 15, but the city said the job would remain open until filled.