Gary mayor to seek council OK for fire chief

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Updated: January 14, 2012 6:48PM

GARY — Because of confusion surrounding city ordinances and a state law, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson will ask the City Council to sanction her appointment of the city’s fire chief.

Last week, Freeman-Wilson named Teresa Everett as chief. Everett was fire chief in College Park, Ga., and was a district chief in Orange County, Fla.

Everett was the top candidate recommended by a search committee that included two city firefighters, Freeman-Wilson said.

Before the appointment, the mayor said, she became aware of a state law that governs police and fire department appointments in second- and third-class cities.

A section of Indiana code calls for a fire chief appointment to have at least five years of continuous service in the department. It also says a city council, upon the request of the city executive, may waive the requirement. However, that statute only applies to fire departments not governed by a merit system. Gary’s Fire Department does have a merit system in place.

Freeman-Wilson said the Fire Commission’s attorney said the law wouldn’t apply to Gary.

Meanwhile, Freeman-Wilson discovered an older city ordinance in which the council had waived the fire chief requirement.

“Rather than risk creating a big deal over this, I’m going to go ahead and request approval from the council,” said Freeman-Wilson.

While acknowledging that firefighters might prefer a candidate from their own ranks, the mayor said she’s received calls from union members voicing support for her selection of Everett.

The new fire chief isn’t expected to assume her duties until later this month or in early February.

Reach reporter Carole Carlson at 648-3154.