A change in title for the head of the city’s fire department became the subject of debate at Wednesday’s Easton City Council meeting.
Councilman Peter Melan questioned a set of proposed resolutions calling for amendments to the job description for the title of ‘director of fire.’ The position, according to officials, will change current Fire Chief Mike Krill’s title to director of fire. Krill will remain, however, as the top-ranking fire official. The change, city solicitor Joel Scheer said, will allow Krill to continue to collect pension benefits upon his retirement. “He will officially not be tied into the benefits that firefighters get under the CBA (collective bargaining agreement) but will get non-uniform benefits as an employee of the city,” Scheer said.
The proposed changes, which were approved by a vote of 6-1 with Melan casting a no vote, did not come without some concerns.