Chief needs role in future

For nearly 40 years, Dan Contini has been the face of Palmer’s fire department.

As the city has grown, he built the department from the ground up and has been so respected for his efforts the fire station downtown bears his name — an honor that usually comes posthumously or at least after retirement. Now 74 and having spent the better part of his life dedicated to local firefighting, Contini is being asked to retire.

That the request comes on the heels of a minor feud between the fire department and Palmer City Hall over parking at the buildings (which sit adjacent to each other) is stirring the pot between the city and some of its front-line emergency responders.

That Contini’s leadership of the fire department no longer meets the operational changes came as a shock to many, including Contini. City Manager Bill Allen says Contini is a “great man” and he was simply asking about the fire chief’s future plans when broaching the subject of retirement.

Perhaps, but when you’re 74 years old and have held a position of importance in the city for decades, it’s reasonable to foresee such a question from your superior could be interpreted as a veiled message — it’s time to go.

To be fair, we must ponder if there is ever a good way to broach the subject when a person who is the institution may not fit with the future direction of an organization. Firefighting, especially with a small department like Palmer’s, can be physically and emotionally demanding. Maintaining that for nearly 40 years is a remarkable achievement.

Rather than broaching the subject of retirement with Contini, Allen and city administration would have been better served including the fire chief in planning for the future. One of the changes Allen says would most directly affect Contini is consolidating the police and fire departments under an emergency services coordinator. Such a move, where the police and fire chief would report to that person instead of Allen directly, has merit. Palmer is growing and how the city uses its resources deserves scrutiny.

Also a former school board member, Contini has a long history of public service to Palmer and the Mat-Su Valley. Deciding he no longer fits in the city’s plans will be a difficult and unpopular move to defend. If Allen is convinced Contini’s time in the Palmer Fire Department is over, then he should stick to his guns. Part of being the head dog is sometimes having to make unpopular choices.

But Contini and the fire department deserve to be approached in a proactive manner that keeps Contini involved in a meaningful way.

“I don’t want to cut him off at the hips, but at the same time I need a fire chief that fits with the way we want to do business,” Allen said.

Then the solution’s simple. Don’t.

Dan Contini is part of Palmer’s past and present and his contributions deserve an opportunity to also help transition the city to be ready for the future.