Members of the city council, residents and members of the fire department were given the opportunity to ask questions of the three final candidates for Chief of the New Carlisle Fire and EMS Department at the regular meeting on Monday evening. The nearly 90 minute question and answer session began with the three candidate’s brief introduction and explanation of why they were seeking the office.

Candidates Joe Stalder, Ron Grout and Steve Trusty openly shared their philosophy on management and leadership with those in attendance at the meeting. Grout and Trusty both have served on the department in the past and are currently active members of the department. Stalder is coming to the city from Moorefield Township.

When asked what the greatest challenge beyond the budget would be for the department, Stalder stated that he sees keeping up with the pay scale in other departments is a challenge. Grout stated that he sees attracting younger members is going to be key. He would also like to encourage an interest in serving with the Hispanic community that continues to grow in the area. Trusty noted the need for training and keeping up certifications as required by the State of Ohio as a key challenge moving forward.

In response to concerns that promoting a current member to the chief’s position could return the department to a situation of erasing the progress made since the departure of former chief Bradley Phillips, both Grout and Trusty supported open communication within the department as a key to avoid the previous problems faced by the department. Grout noted that he saw no reason to look backwards and all candidates agreed that moving forward is the key to success.

For the majority of questions the three candidates appeared to be repeating the same answers suggesting that whomever is selected, the department will be looking at a leader who is willing to be very hands on and who will put the needs of safety for the department members at the top of the list moving forward.

All three candidates agreed that their top priority in the first 30 days would be to look at the budget and see where the department stands coming to the end of the calendar year. Moving on to a 90 day plan, Grout would like to see that the department look at the equipment and what is needed to assure that the department is prepared. He also noted the need to look at the capital equipment and how the department will begin the process of replacement.

Trusty noted that he would look at a long range plan to assure that all members have their own air equipment to be ahead of the curve of mandates.

Stalder would also look at the manpower and the structure of the department moving forward.

The candidates were asked to prepare a 30, 60 and 90 day plan for their upcoming one on one interviews with the city manager.

The candidates were asked about their greatest strengths but when asked about their greatest weakness, it was unanimous that the loss of a life, especial a child was the most difficult part of the job for a first responder including themselves.

Phil Baker, a member of the department responded to a question posed by council member Rick Lowrey concerning the appointment of Trusty or Grout and the morale within the department. Baker assured Lowery and those present that the department would welcome any of the candidates as the new chief.

When asked how he felt the department would react to the change in leadership, interim chief Richard Ritter stated that the department will never go back to the way that it was under Phillips. “It will never happen again” said Ritter as he noted that the department members would not let the department go into a downward spiral.

The New Carlisle News asked the candidates about their view on a department having a combination of EMT and Paramedics rather than the previous goal of Chief Phillips to have only Paramedic Fire Fighters on staff. All three candidates noted the importance of having the EMT in addition to Paramedics on the department and were supportive of the role that both members play in when responding to an emergency call.

In closing City Manager Randy Bridge stated that any fire department member was invited to e-mail their comments regarding any of the candidates to him. Bridge will be conducting one on one interviews with all three candidates but gave no timeline as to when the decision will be made regarding a new chief. When asked about council’s participation in the process, Bridge stated that the chief reports directly to him as city manager and that he will be making the final hiring decision.