The Fire Department has both fewer firefighters and fewer administrators, with six upper-command positions vacant, including the chief's job.
For several months, Public Safety Commissioner Steven Paré has been acting chief as the city searches for a new department head from outside the city — an effort that has hit some bumps since it began a year ago.
"I can see when a department is in need of someone from the outside," Paré says. "New ideas. New perspective. No ties politically. No ties internally. No A team. No B team. Just someone fresh and gonna call it as they see it and bring the department to the next level."
Paré said a new chief will play a role in filling the other top jobs.
No one from within the department has applied for any of the six top positions: the $135,000-to-$160,000 chief’s position; two assistant chief’s positions, which pay $105,000 each; and three deputy assistant chief’s jobs, which pay $85,000 to $90,000 each.
The city administration and the firefighters union have, for the last year, been involved in a dispute over the switch from a four- to three-platoon staffing system.