The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Fire chief steps down
Stevens named to interim post
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 24, 2008
Saying he had lost confidence in the Milan Area Fire Board and accusing some members of unprofessional behavior, the chief of the Milan Area Fire Department tersely announced his retirement April 17 before walking out of the meeting held at Milan City Hall.
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"I've lost all respect and confidence in most of the board," said Chief David Webb, who has headed up the Milan Area Fire Department for three years and is a full-time captain with the Ypsilanti Township Fire Department.
Webb said his retirement would be effective April 30 and that he was going on a seven-day vacation "as of right now" and he left the meeting.
The chief's announcement comes a month after a contentious fire board meeting March 20 in which the board's decision to switch from a Category 1 fire department to Category 2 was heatedly challenged by firefighters and some residents. At that same meeting, the board discussed reducing Webb's salary for 20 hours a week from $20,000 a year to $8,500.
The chief's relationship with the board had become increasingly strained in recent months. The board approved the category change in January, in large part to reduce the number of runs the department makes, thereby hoping to stave off Webb's proposal to convert the paid-on-call department to a full-time operation at a projected cost of $400,000 -- a move the board says it cannot afford.
The Milan Area Fire Department, which services Milan, London and York townships, and the city of Milan, made 901 runs last year. About 67 percent of those runs were medical calls, to which Huron Valley Ambulance also responded.
Best estimates suggest that the category change --which would free the department from responding to non-life-threatening 911 calls -- could reduce the department's runs by up to 20 percent.
Webb, who held that the board made the switch without seeking his input, vehemently opposed the change.
"It's really unfortunate it had to come to this," Dave Wittkop, board chairman and Milan Township supervisor, said of Webb's retirement. "There's a difference of opinion, but we're the board and we have to hold people accountable. This way I believe we can heal."
The board named Assistant Fire Chief Bob Stevens, 49, interim acting fire chief. Stevens has been with the department since 1984 and served as chief from 2000 to 2002. Marty Ritchie was named interim acting assistant fire chief.
The board unanimously voted to accept Webb's letter of retirement, but made it effective immediately, agreeing to pay him through the end of the month.
"He's done today," said board member Joe Zurawski, York Township supervisor.
The board's decision came under some criticism.
"I think the chief summed it up. You need to sit back and look at what you created," resident Pete Blaine told the board. "This has created so much turmoil in our community ... I don't have confidence in this board. I used to have confidence in the fire department. I don't anymore. I have confidence in the firefighters and the guys on the line, but not in this board."
Wittkop said he would consider recommending the board hire a consultant to facilitate a search for Webb's replacement.
The fire board's next meeting is May 15.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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