Edwards to become County fire chief
Fire Chief Frank Edwards will leave the City of Pensacola’s fire department to head Escambia County’s fire-rescue operations and public safety bureau. His last day with the City will be July 31.
Pensacola City Manager Al Coby says the position will be advertised nationally. Mr. Coby has not yet made a decision on an interim replacement.
Mr. Edwards had been the Chief of the Pensacola Fire Department since December 2007. He previously spent 28 years with the Chesterfield, Virginia fire department.
Chief Edwards replaces Ken Perkins, who resigned in February. As Escambia County’s fire chief, Mr. Edwards will command a blend of paid firefighters and fifteen volunteer departments, which were unified under a single command structure last year.
Thank you lord for your daily blessings
Now he can go cut manpower and take truck off duty in the county…. Since budget is more important than lives, he will do just great in the county.
I like the “will be advertised nationally” part. The County said the same thing and ended up going right next door.
Maybe this is in the grand plan for consolidating some services to save the taxpayers some money, or more probably to free up some money to line their pockets.
Maybe Mr. Coby can talk to the County administrator and borrow from their list to save some more money, that way the City can get the County rejects.
Hopefully Coby will do a better job than Bonefield with his nationwide search plan.
The last time this game was played the search resulted in the number 1 candidate being a Woman- Oh No!!!
That couldn’t happen so Bonefield came up with some lame response that she wouldn’t fit in
Not sure this city wants the brightest and best.
Same nationwide search and citizens review committe for a planning staff position resulted in the city staff manager picking the least qualified candidate- already on staff-
And the same for the nationwide search for City Attorney. I did not know that about the woman thing you spoke of, but it does not surprise me at all.
City staff has to be the most arrogant and unprofessional group people I have ever met. I am sure that had some part in Edward’s decission to leave.
Like the song says
Sign says you gotta have a membership card to get inside
- only gob’s need apply
The assistant woman city manager-Ustick didn’t stick around long.
She came, she saw, she got the heck out of here.
[...] Edwards to become County fire chief [...]
whaaa? — blame city council for the “nationwide” search for a new city attorney. City staff doesn’t have any control over what the council does when filling the city manager or city attorney positions.
As for the fire chief, the previous city manager conducted 2 nationwide searches. Rumor has it that the first search wasn’t acceptable because the interview panel recommended a female (lesbian). Thus his decision that she was “not a good fit.” The second nationwide search resulted in the city hiring Edwards. Was he a good fit? Well, he didn’t stick around for even 2 years.
If you look at his complete pay package, he is taking a pay cut to go to county. Also his talent was not good enough for the city, just ask how many time he has been called to the principals office for discipline. The city just got rid of an employee that did not work out. Rumor around city hall was that his contract was not going to get renewed anyways.
How many times “taxpayer”?
One time too many….evidently
The taxpayers can credit DeSorbo for nixing the nationwide search for the city attorney.
He threw a bamboozle on the ESP advertising rfp too so the out of town winner didn’t win, the local boy did.
His years of serving are over.
Taxpayer — he’s not taking a pay cut. He has to pay 11% into the fire pension & won’t have to pay anything towards his pension with the county. His health insurance will also be better & cheaper.
As one that fought very hard againt the automatic aid agreement, I am glad he is gone. Now he can keep raising taxes in the county to take care of his taxpayers or pay the city to protect the county residents. But according to city staff records, he has taken 2 trucks off duty and cut minimum manning by 18 fire fighters. My brother lives off langley and just the other day a ladder truck had to fight a fire with the owners garden hose because of the reduction in equipment. It took another 5 minutes before a firetruck arrived. I pay taxes to make sure the roads are good and someone will come to my house when I call 911. Anything besides those priorities, it should come second. Its time to bring what matters most to the citizens of pensacola.
Taxpayer, I hate to break your bubble, because obviously you do not like the man. Maybe you have some bad information, but those trucks off duty and the reduction in 18 personnel came from his boss (Al Coby). He is the one you should hold responsible. The Chief in this form of goevernment has no control over his money and the Manager can take as much as he wants whenever he wants. I hope you did not vote for Amendment 1. Further, they tried to move tax base around and put the fire department under an MSBU to protect its revenue and that got whole heartedly shot down by citizens. So if you want that protection you speak of talk to your council members and demand they return the funding they have taken. I looked at the budget the other day and the Fire Department has taken a huge hit and is funded at less than 2005 budget. How is that the fault of the Chief when he does not control any of his money. I wish him luck as this City staff and Council is absolutely the most disfunctional I have ever seen.
Sorry for the rant, and I got off topic, but my point is that the Council and Staff are responsible for the reduction in service. Blame them.
“I looked at the budget the other day and the Fire Department has taken a huge hit and is funded at less than 2005 budget.”
If this is correct, how did the city claim it could provide free fire service to the county ?
by proposing a new Fire MSBU?