Up through the ranks

From a recent advertisement in the Bangor Daily News, Dec. 9-10, advertising for a fire chief for the city of Bangor:

From the first appointment of a fire chief, Ebenezer French, on March 19, 1831, this is the first time the city of Bangor has gone outside of the fire department to advertise for a fire chief’s position-appointment.

In the 164-year history since the appointment of the first fire chief, the appointment has always come from within the ranks of the assistant chiefs of the fire department, on the recommendation of the retiring fire chief with city council approval.

This is a personal slap in the face to the assistant chiefs and members of the department who over the years have worked very hard to be promoted up through the ranks to make the Bangor Fire Department one of the best in the state.

Under the present fire chief the fire department has been working without a contract for more than two years, along with the outside advertising for chief, and this does not help the morale of the members of the fire department.

The city manager and the city council should take an immediate long, hard look on the above appointment. Paul E. Tower Brewer