Council endorses recruitment process for successor
By Jason Arndt
Editor
The City of Burlington plans to recruit a new fire chief to succeed a retiring Alan Babe on a motion approved Tuesday by the Common Council.
The motion consists of approving a contract with MGT, formerly Gov HR USA, to start the full-scope recruitment process for Babe’s successor.
Babe has served as the fire chief for the City of Burlington since 2016 and will retire effective April 30, according to City Administrator Carina Walters.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Walter said the city’s Police and Fire Commission met on Jan. 13 to discuss Babe’s retirement and the process for recruiting a successor to lead the department.
While the PFC is responsible for personnel decisions related to the police and fire chiefs, Walters noted there needs to be effective communication between the board and Common Council, which will ensure residents receive the best service from the fire department.
A full-scope of the recruitment process, including the national posting of the position, is expected to cost about $23,000 (excluding travel expenses) and come from funds earmarked the 2025 Fire and EMS budget.
The recruitment includes advertising, a recruitment brochure, presentation of candidates, interview process, background screenings and a 12-month guarantee on the placed candidate, Walters wrote in a memorandum to the Common Council.
The PFC recommended the Common Council utilize MGT for the recruitment of the new fire chief.
“We wanted to make sure that this was an equitable and transparent process that is handled by a third party,” said Walters.
She also noted city officials are undergoing a series of other projects, including the ongoing Echo Lake Dam and economic development initiatives and felt it was necessary to hire a consultant.
“There is a lot going on for staff now and this is really a good opportunity to outsource this,” Walters said.
Walters said the city did not solicit other proposals, considering MGT’s track record with the city, including the recent hire of Howard Moser as the new director of public works.
“The quality and the work product that we have gotten from MGT has been outstanding,” said Walters. “They have really worked with us through the entire process and staff is very satisfied for the overall quality of work that that they have provided to us.”
Babe arrived in the city from the former Town of Raymond, now incorporated as a village, in 2016 following 21 years of service at his former department.
In 2016, when the city announced Babe’s hire, officials recognized his strong professional career in the private sector as an automotive refinishing sales, service expert and manager.
“He is excited for the opportunity to use his business knowledge and expertise, combined with a passion for public service, to add value and contribute to the City of Burlington,” officials wrote in a news release at the time.
Since joining the City of Burlington, Babe has guided the community through several challenges, including the 2017 historic flood, the transition to Racine County Communications Center for dispatch services, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and continued increases in calls for service.
City officials expect the process of finding Babe’s successor to take about four months.
The Common Council, which typically reviews proposals at a committee of the whole meeting before deciding on the next regular session, approved the matter on Tuesday because of strict time constraints related to hiring the new fire chief.
Walters said she wanted to ensure all appropriate stakeholders, including fire departments members, had an opportunity to be involved in the process.
-
-
-
-
-