Ongoing talks between Camas and Washougal about merging their fire departments will not interfere with the Camas fire chief vacancy’s being filled by the end of May, Camas officials said this week.
Mayor Paul Dennis and City Administrator Lloyd Halverson said they don’t expect lingering consolidation talks to limit the quality or quantity of candidates for the chief’s job.
The deadline to apply for Camas’ fire chief vacancy is March 31.
“We’re basically going out to find the fire chief for our department,” not a consolidated department, Dennis said.
The status of the merger and how it could affect the new Camas’ chief’s title will likely lead some candidates to ask questions, the mayor conceded.
Camas has been without a full-time fire chief since officials fired Leo Leon on Jan. 28 for reasons not revealed publicly. Leon served as fire chief for six years. Retired city Public Works Director Monte Brachmann is serving as interim chief.
Job qualifications
Camas is looking for someone with a “fresh perspective” on fire and emergency medical service trends who understands the challenges associated with each, according to recruitment papers. Candidates must have at least seven years’ management experience in a similar-sized organization and a bachelor’s degree with major coursework in fire science, public or business administration, or a related field. The fire chief will earn between $97,000 and $120,000, plus benefits.
Per his contract with the city, Leon, 65, will receive three months’ severance pay and health benefits. He made $10,016 per month, or just over $120,000 per year.
When asked this week about Leon’s firing, Dennis and Halverson refused to elaborate on previous statements made about setbacks and lost confidence on the former chief’s watch.
“It was time to focus on a new future in the department,” Halverson said.
Washougal Fire Chief Ron Schumacher, who worked closely with Leon on consolidation talks, said he enjoyed working with the former chief.
“I have no idea what occurred between Chief Leon and the city,” Schumacher said.
Camas and Washougal hired Vancouver-based private consultant Paul Lewis last fall to analyze the savings that could result from combining the departments. Firefighters in both departments belong to the same union, but have separate contracts with their individual cities.
Lewis’ findings should be ready soon, Dennis said. From there, more discussions between the two cities would take place. Consolidation could be a year or two away, if it happens at all, Schumacher said.
