City says Contini will decide exit

PALMER — City Manager Bill Allen says he asked Palmer Fire Chief Dan Contini about Contini’s retirement because the city is undergoing some changes.

Allen stressed, however, that the conversation with the longtime fire chief was done with respect for Contini, who Allen called a “great man.”

“There’s no question about that,” Allen said.

Contini, 74, has been with the Palmer Fire Department for nearly 40 years and said he was called into a meeting recently with Allen and Sara Jansen, the city’s special projects coordinator. Contini said in that meeting Allen talked to him about retiring,

That decision has been left largely up to Contini, Allen said.

“It’s not something like, ‘You retire or I’m going to fire you,’ [or that] type of thing,” Allen said, adding that operational changes in city management prompted him to inquire about Contini’s career plans.

“It’s more, what are your plans, what are you going to do?” Allen said about taking stock of city resources. “For my purposes I need to know what his plans are.”

For his part, Contini said he has agreed to retire, although he doesn’t know when. No official date has been set, Contini said.

The operational changes Allen spoke of, many of which are already in place, include consolidating the police and fire departments under one umbrella of emergency services, Allen said. It is also clear Contini does not agree with some of the changes.

In response, Contini said he doesn’t know which changes would bother him.

“Right now, everything’s just static,” he said.

Contini said Allen did not give him a reason for wanting a retirement date, but he figures it might be because he’s the oldest one in the department and the city is looking for a fresh face.

“So they’ll have a new look on life,” Contini said.

The Palmer Fire Department has been under Contini as its chief since its formation. The former Mat-Su Borough School Board member has made a name for himself in the city as a public servant. The fire station on Cobb Street in Palmer is named for Contini.

Reaction around Palmer has been largely supportive of Contini, the chief said, adding people he knows have been showing that support for him.

Many firefighters in Palmer are not happy about the situation, said some firefighters who declined to be identified.

Jesse Werner, who has been a Palmer firefighter for more than 30 years, said whenever Contini leaves the department it will likely cause a personnel shake-up.

“If Dan leaves the old-timers will leave,” Werner said, adding he gets the sense the city is politely telling Contini it’s time for him to go.

But Allen insists he’s giving Contini a chance to exit on his own terms.

“I let him tell me what he wanted to do,” Allen said. “In terms of retiring, he wanted to get his 40 years in and it was by mutual agreement.”

Allen also said he understands the fire department is Contini’s life, as the chief has said, which is why he has suggested Contini stay on to work with children on the subject of fire prevention.

Contini said he hasn’t made up his mind if he will stay on in any capacity after he retires.

Even if Contini retires soon, Allen said there isn’t anyone lined up yet to take his spot, adding that when Contini does leave, the chief will have an opportunity to help choose the new chief.

Still, Contini said he still feels the retirement meeting was a way of getting across the message that it’s time for him to leave.

“That’s what I gather is I’m the old boy on the block,” he said. “Every time we have a discussion I say, ‘This is how we did it before.’ I probably cut my own throat on that, but I’m not a ‘yes’ man.”

For Allen, knowing how Contini’s plans will fit in with the future of Palmer is necessary.

“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.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.