Warsaw-Wayne Township Fire Territory board approved a recommendation to hire Mike Brubaker as Warsaw’s new fire chief during its meeting Tuesday.
Brubaker, who currently serves as a firefighter with Warsaw Fire Department, will replace current Warsaw Fire Chief Mike Rice effective Jan. 1, who is retiring.
Rice served 21 years with the city. He served as firefighter, assistant chief and most recently as chief for the past 5-1/2 years. Rice led the department through the transition to a fire territory in 2009.
The recommendation to hire Brubaker was from mayor-elect Joe Thallemer, who has the authority to appoint department heads.
However, board member Sheila Burner abstained from the vote to hire Brubaker.
Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety, following its Dec. 2 meeting, were made aware of Rice’s retirement effective Jan. 1.
The board will need to approve a salary for Brubaker at its Dec. 16 meeting.
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins made the motion Tuesday to approve the recommendation to hire Brubaker, seconded by board member Joe Streeter. Board member Mike Reed also voted in favor of the recommendation.
Board member Sheila Burner abstained from the vote. She said she would have liked to have known about the recommendation to hire Brubaker, and had an opportunity to provide input on the decision prior to Tuesday’s meeting.
Wiggins said it is the authority of the provider unit, the city, to select a department head.
During the meeting, Burner said she would like to ask a question, and Wiggins said she could.
Burner said she has served on the fire territory board, and wondered why the board did not have input on the recommendation to hire Brubaker. She asked if Rice’s retirement was all politics.
Wiggins said there probably was some element of politics, but said Warsaw is the provider unit for the fire territory and said the mayor has the authority to name department heads.
Burner said she would have liked to have known of Rice’s retirement without having heard it in a restaurant.
“I would have liked to have some input on what was going on and I am not a happy camper and you can put that in the minutes,” Burner said.
Wiggins said Burner’s comments were duly noted.
“Frankly 15 years living in a small town I hear a lot of things in restaurants I am not made aware of before either, but I understand what you are saying,” Wiggins said.
Burner asked Wiggins what the fire territory board’s job is, and if Brubaker has sat in on fire territory board meetings. Wiggins said the board members job is to oversee the fire territory.
Reed said he did not have a problem with approving Thallemer’s recommendation to hire Brubaker if that is what the city was recommending.
Brubaker began as a volunteer firefighter in Pleasant Township in 1993.
He joined the Warsaw Fire Department in 2002 and has served as firefighter, lieutenant, and captain.
He is an active member of the Technical Rescue Team with extensive training in Structural Collapse Rescue, Trench and Confined Space Rescue, and Hazardous Materials training.
“Mike is very well respected in the department and will provide the leadership necessary to move the fire territory forward to meet the challenges of public safety and a growing area of responsibility,” Thallemer said.
