Post by commonsense on Feb 12, 2008 8:03:41 GMT -5
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Chambersburg's emergency services chief to start in April
By KEITH PARADISE Staff writer
CHAMBERSBURG -- The search for a new emergency services chief for the Borough of Chambersburg officially ended Monday night with the hiring of Scranton's deputy fire chief.
Borough council unanimously approved the hiring of Terrence Osborne as chief at Monday's borough council meeting. Osborne will officially start the job on April 7. Osborne has been deputy chief in Scranton since 1996 and has been employed with the Scranton Fire Department since 1983.
Borough Manager Eric Oyer said after the meeting that the position will pay $73,900 and Osborne's educational background and willingness to be involved in the community made him the borough's top selection. Osborne has a bachelor's degree in fire sciences and a master's degree in human resource management from the University of Maryland.
He is also near to completion of the executive fire officer program at the United States Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md. He finished the necessary coursework at the end of October and will be submitting his final paper within the next few weeks to complete the program.
"He has a very strong background in fire services and administration," Oyer said.
Osborne will be leaving a department that is in danger of shrinking for one that has slowly grown.
Osborne said in a telephone interview after the meeting that Scranton's fire department has seen a cut in personnel in recent years as the city has declined to economically distressed status.
When the city offered
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an early retirement, Osborne applied for the Chambersburg position. Oyer said the borough waited for about a year to hire Osborne while Scranton determined a retirement date.
"I was ready to move on sooner than this. That was the cause for the delay," Osborne said.
Meanwhile, Chambersburg's department has grown by three full-time firefighters to 21.
"Chambersburg struck me as a very well run borough. It struck me as very progressive and growing," Osborne said.
Oyer said that although Osborne will not be taking the job for another month and a half, he has already familiarized himself with the borough's fire code as well as the budget and latest labor contract. He said he plans to meet with anyone who provides mutual aid to the borough when he gets to town and becomes more familiar with the position and the area.
The department has been without a full-time chief since John VanLandingham resigned in November 2005.
Assistant Chief WIlliam Dubbs has been interim chief since VanLandingham's resignation. The borough received about 100 applications for the position, which was narrowed to roughly six finalists. The remaining applicants also participated in a profiling process.
Osborne said he has already been in frequent contact with Dubbs about the position and said he'll be working with Dubbs a great deal when he starts the position.
Oyer also said the borough will be providing additional information for Osborne to make the transition easier.
"We're going to give him as much background as possible so that he can hit the ground running," Oyer said.
Chambersburg's emergency services chief to start in April
By KEITH PARADISE Staff writer
CHAMBERSBURG -- The search for a new emergency services chief for the Borough of Chambersburg officially ended Monday night with the hiring of Scranton's deputy fire chief.
Borough council unanimously approved the hiring of Terrence Osborne as chief at Monday's borough council meeting. Osborne will officially start the job on April 7. Osborne has been deputy chief in Scranton since 1996 and has been employed with the Scranton Fire Department since 1983.
Borough Manager Eric Oyer said after the meeting that the position will pay $73,900 and Osborne's educational background and willingness to be involved in the community made him the borough's top selection. Osborne has a bachelor's degree in fire sciences and a master's degree in human resource management from the University of Maryland.
He is also near to completion of the executive fire officer program at the United States Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md. He finished the necessary coursework at the end of October and will be submitting his final paper within the next few weeks to complete the program.
"He has a very strong background in fire services and administration," Oyer said.
Osborne will be leaving a department that is in danger of shrinking for one that has slowly grown.
Osborne said in a telephone interview after the meeting that Scranton's fire department has seen a cut in personnel in recent years as the city has declined to economically distressed status.
When the city offered
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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an early retirement, Osborne applied for the Chambersburg position. Oyer said the borough waited for about a year to hire Osborne while Scranton determined a retirement date.
"I was ready to move on sooner than this. That was the cause for the delay," Osborne said.
Meanwhile, Chambersburg's department has grown by three full-time firefighters to 21.
"Chambersburg struck me as a very well run borough. It struck me as very progressive and growing," Osborne said.
Oyer said that although Osborne will not be taking the job for another month and a half, he has already familiarized himself with the borough's fire code as well as the budget and latest labor contract. He said he plans to meet with anyone who provides mutual aid to the borough when he gets to town and becomes more familiar with the position and the area.
The department has been without a full-time chief since John VanLandingham resigned in November 2005.
Assistant Chief WIlliam Dubbs has been interim chief since VanLandingham's resignation. The borough received about 100 applications for the position, which was narrowed to roughly six finalists. The remaining applicants also participated in a profiling process.
Osborne said he has already been in frequent contact with Dubbs about the position and said he'll be working with Dubbs a great deal when he starts the position.
Oyer also said the borough will be providing additional information for Osborne to make the transition easier.
"We're going to give him as much background as possible so that he can hit the ground running," Oyer said.