As part of the city’s efforts to restructure duties within the Hillsdale Fire Department, Chief Kevin Pauken has stepped down, leading to Police Chief Scott Hephner’s replacing him as interim fire chief.
Hephner explained how his duties as interim fire chief will make the department run more smoothly.
“My role is purely administrative,” he said. “I will not fight fires. I will not take command in emergency situations. My instructions, if you will, are to go in and revise finances, update scheduling, review how first responders do their jobs, and to take care of things like issues with trucks. I already have implemented some policies and guidelines to do these things.”
To help alleviate any potential stress for Hephner, Pauken will not be leaving the force entirely but will stay on as deputy fire chief, a recently-created position, to assist Hephner as he adjusts to his new position. It is designed to take the burden of daily menial responsibilities off of the fire chief.
City Manager David Mackie praised Pauken for his service and said that his new position will be better for the city in the long term.
“Chief Pauken has been a dedicated and loyal employee to the city of Hillsdale for 37 years, and has been an exemplary fireman. Previous to his appointment as chief in 2014, he had discussed the possibility of retirement and enjoying less stress,” he said. “The fire chief position has become more stressful and requires additional management and technical responsibilities.”
Right now, the city employs four full-time firefighters, but the upcoming retirement of firefighter Eric Pressler and Pauken’s decision to step down has created the need for department reform. Hillsdale Mayor Scott Sessions said the city’s new plan will restructure the responsibilities within the department without hiring new employees.
“The idea is that we’ll continue to maintain the four full-time firefighters, but we have a number of potential retired ones coming up next year. Basically, this plan will allow us to advertise new positions as they come,” he said.
At a Sept. 6 city council meeting, Mackie said that by creating the position of deputy fire chief, the city is ensuring stability in the department for the future.
“This was something the public safety committee met about and considered,” he said. “It was unanimously supported that we need to make some changes and institute the deputy fire chief position.”
In addition to relieving stress from the fire chief position, restructuring the fire department internally will help balance the budget. By not adding more firefighters to the force, the city will save money both in the near future and the long term.
“This is ultimately going to affect the budget positively,” Councilman Adam Stockford said. “Ultimately, like immediately.”
Since the city council discussed these changes at the Sept. 6 meeting, the new department policies have been implemented, Hephner has been named interim chief, and Pauken deputy chief.
