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Thursday, June 23, 2011

New: Mehlville Fire Board Approves Chief's Resignation

June 22, 2011 - Staff Report

The Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors voted unanimously today to accept the resignation of Chief Tim White.

Board members voted during a closed session this afternoon to accept White's resignation, according to Chairman Aaron Hilmer.

White was selected as former Chief Jim Silvernail's successor in April 2009 when he was named to the newly created post of administrative chief fire officer. White, a firefighter/emergency medical technician who had been employed by the district since June 1985, was named captain in December 2008.

Upon Silvernail's retirement in April 2010, White assumed the position of chief.

"The reality is, is we had a difference of opinion in the direction we wanted the district to go in the future,'' Hilmer told the Call. "Tim White wanted to take it in one way. The board wasn't comfortable with it. We wanted to go in a different direction.

"At that time, we decided to amicably part ways,'' he continued. "He received a severance package that's in line with other packages we have given for early retirements, et cetera. He's going to receive nine months' pay and benefits and a $15,000 education stipend.''

During today's closed session, the board also voted unanimously to name Assistant Chief Brian Hendricks as interim chief.

Hendricks, who previously served as deputy chief training officer, was named assistant chief last year. In May, Hendricks assumed control of operations of the district.

Also during today's closed session, the board voted 2-0 to name Deputy Chief Training Officer Dan LaFata as interim assistant chief. Hilmer was not present for the vote.

Regarding the board's future plans for the chief's position, Hilmer said, "Right now, we have made no decisions on it and certainly I can say there is no rush on it. There's a tremendous administrative staff in place there and the district's going to continue to run just fine. That's an issue we'll address down the road, what to do.''

Hilmer said White was leaving to pursue other professional opportunities and "we wish him well in his endeavors.''

Read more in next week's Call about this story.

4 comments:

  1. Aaron Hilmer listened to his team and took appropriate action. He didn't run for cover but did the right thing. That's REAL leadership.

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  2. Aaron Hilmer and the board have the right to set the policies that govern the district. If Tim White didn't like those policies he had the right to resign. These disputes happen everyday in the private sector as they do in public entities like fire districts. White is a fine person but he didn't fit the MFPD board's management objectives. It makes sense that they went their separate ways.

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  3. Chief White and Aaron Hilmer did a class job of not attacking each other after White's resignation. It's a shame that the hate mongers at Mike Heins' sorry excuse for a blog are still slinging the same insults at White even though he is gone. But what else does Bob Strinni his buddies have to do since they no longer have jobs at MFPD. You guys need a new hobby.

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  4. I don't Strinni and Company is done with White yet:

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