Dept. seeks new chief

MARGARETTA TWP. — A local department needs a new leader. Not too long ago, Margaretta Township trustees began the process to find a successor for Chief Kerry Jett, who plans on retiring. Jett, who's served as chief for a little less than three years, will continue to work for the township until officials select a new chief. Trustees answered some questions about how they're going about finding a new fire chief: Q: What is the process? A: The board approved an agreement to use the consulting services of the Ohio Fire Chiefs' Association to assist with the search for a new fire chief. The association will advertise the position across the state, review and vet applicants and evaluate the pool of candidates. Based on their assessment, a select group of qualified candidates will then be recommended for interviews with the township trustees." Q: When could a new hire happen? A: As soon as practical. Q: What are the top three qualifications for the next chief A: They are: • Experience in fire service leadership: The ideal candidate should have at least 10 years of firefighting experience with supervisory responsibilities to ensure the practical knowledge and leadership background needed to manage personnel and operations effectively for the township. • Strong communication and administrative skills: The chief must possess strong communication, organizational, computer, supervision and budgeting skills to effectively manage the department, oversee resources and coordinate with the township trustees and the community. • Proven incident command and leadership ability — Strong leadership and experience managing and coordinating emergency scenes are essential so the chief can make critical decisions and safely direct personnel during emergencies. Some other details, including salary range, remain unknown at this time.