LONG BEACH -- The search for Long Beach's new fire chief is officially on.
Although former Long Beach Fire Chief Dave Ellis announced his retirement back in October the city did not post the job until Wednesday night.
Debbie Mills, acting director of the city's Human Resources Department, said late Wednesday the application was complete and available at the city's Web site, www.longbeach.gov, under the employment listing.
Asked why it took so long to post the position and Mills said there were no major hurdles, but noted the city wanted to make sure the wording in the application -- done with the Los Angeles-based Teri Black & Co. search firm -- was correct and that City Manager Pat West wanted to make the police chief selection before embarking on choosing the next fire chief.
"There's been a lot going on and we wanted to focus on one thing at a time," Mills said Wednesday.
The application states candidates need to be able to work within a budget crunch and think outside of the box when dealing with financial issues.
Among the other criteria for candidates are:
Applicants should hold the rank of battalion chief or above in a metropolitan municipal fire Department in California serving a population of 250,000 or more.
A bachelor's degree is preferred, though experience and other education will be considered.
And having worked in a coastal area is a plus.
The salary will be determined by the candidate's qualifications and experience, though the city notes the mid-point of the current salary range is $171,000 annually.
Applicants have to hurry, however, because the application process is open only until midnight on March 21.
"It's a quick turn-around," Mills acknowledged. "Our goal is to have a fire chief selected by next month."
Though Ellis announced his retirement plans in October his last official day on the job wasn't until Dec. 31.
Since his departure, and during a medical leave prior to Ellis' retirement, the fire department's three deputy fire chiefs -- Mike Garcia, Alan Patalano and Jeff Reeb -- have shared the burden of running the department that includes 553 full-time employees and a budget of $90 million annually.
A number of the firefighters on the floor said they hope the selection will be made internally, though the process has not been as fraught with suspicion as the city's recent decision to hire an outside candidate for police chief.
Rich Brandt, president of the Long Beach Firefighters Association, said Tuesday he was told the posting for the job would be released some time this week.
"I've been waiting with baited breath," he said, adding that he would like very much for the job to go to an internal candidate.
Mills noted the backlash in the selection process for the police chief indirectly by saying she felt the search for the fire chief would be relatively fast.
That job opening was initially posted as one for internal candidates only with West changing the parameters to include outside candidates after the original filing deadline had passed and after several internal candidates had applied.
"We're anticipating this one will go smoothly," Mills said.
Although former Long Beach Fire Chief Dave Ellis announced his retirement back in October the city did not post the job until Wednesday night.
Debbie Mills, acting director of the city's Human Resources Department, said late Wednesday the application was complete and available at the city's Web site, www.longbeach.gov, under the employment listing.
Asked why it took so long to post the position and Mills said there were no major hurdles, but noted the city wanted to make sure the wording in the application -- done with the Los Angeles-based Teri Black & Co. search firm -- was correct and that City Manager Pat West wanted to make the police chief selection before embarking on choosing the next fire chief.
"There's been a lot going on and we wanted to focus on one thing at a time," Mills said Wednesday.
The application states candidates need to be able to work within a budget crunch and think outside of the box when dealing with financial issues.
Among the other criteria for candidates are:
Applicants should hold the rank of battalion chief or above in a metropolitan municipal fire Department in California serving a population of 250,000 or more.
A bachelor's degree is preferred, though experience and other education will be considered.
And having worked in a coastal area is a plus.
The salary will be determined by the candidate's qualifications and experience, though the city notes the mid-point of the current salary range is $171,000 annually.
Applicants have to hurry, however, because the application process is open only until midnight on March 21.
"It's a quick turn-around," Mills acknowledged. "Our goal is to have a fire chief selected by next month."
Though Ellis announced his retirement plans in October his last official day on the job wasn't until Dec. 31.
Since his departure, and during a medical leave prior to Ellis' retirement, the fire department's three deputy fire chiefs -- Mike Garcia, Alan Patalano and Jeff Reeb -- have shared the burden of running the department that includes 553 full-time employees and a budget of $90 million annually.
A number of the firefighters on the floor said they hope the selection will be made internally, though the process has not been as fraught with suspicion as the city's recent decision to hire an outside candidate for police chief.
Rich Brandt, president of the Long Beach Firefighters Association, said Tuesday he was told the posting for the job would be released some time this week.
"I've been waiting with baited breath," he said, adding that he would like very much for the job to go to an internal candidate.
Mills noted the backlash in the selection process for the police chief indirectly by saying she felt the search for the fire chief would be relatively fast.
That job opening was initially posted as one for internal candidates only with West changing the parameters to include outside candidates after the original filing deadline had passed and after several internal candidates had applied.
"We're anticipating this one will go smoothly," Mills said.
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