After more than two years, Willoughby Hills Fire Department has a chief.
While the department has been run by several people in the role of acting fire chief, it has not had anyone in the official role of chief since the resignation of the newly appointed Bobby DiSanto, on Sept. 13, 2016, for lacking the qualifications required for the position.
After several disputes between city's council and the city's administration over who should be placed in the acting fire chief and fire chief positions, the issue was resolved as part of a legal settlement reached in January. Mayor Robert Weger was allowed to pick from three candidates.
Weger selected Robert Gandee, who has served full time as a lieutenant with the Mentor Fire Department and part time with the Kirtland Fire Department.
Weger, who was not at the April 11 council meeting when council voted to hire Gandee, had previously said, "He (Gandee) has been through so much, and he is well-qualified to be the chief."