By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
ASHWAUBENON – The command staff structure of the village’s public safety department has changed, at least temporarily, after the Ashwaubenon Police and Fire Commission agreed Tuesday, April 14, to promote Randy Tews as the deputy chief.
Village Manager Allison Swanson said the $2,300 listed as the monetary impact of the change would be for an entire year, while Tew’s promotion is effective for only part of the year.
Swanson said the village board last month approved the financing for the promotion and the department’s structural change, while the commission is authorized to approve the actual promotion.
The department was staffed with a public safety director, commander of the police operations and commander of fire/emergency medical services operations.
The change in structure for the department has a chief, deputy chief and one commander instead of two.
Tews, who was an acting public safety chief prior to Brian Uhl being permanently hired to the position earlier this year, also has prior experience as a commander in the department.
In a report to the commission, Uhl said he would like to have a clearly defined chain of command and doesn’t like two similar positions, namely commanders, at the top as the second in command.
“When you compare municipalities that are similar in size to the Village of Ashwaubenon that provide full-time police and fire/EMS services, you will find that many of the municipalities have a director and a deputy chief,” he said. “This will allow us to properly use and define our scope of duties and delegate authority throughout the department.”
Staffing changes have been proposed for the public safety department after the village authorized a study of department operations by Fitch & Associates.
However, the changes recommended by Fitch have yet to be implemented with the Ashwaubenon Public Safety Officers’ Association not having a new contract and continuing to operate under the terms of its collective bargaining agreement that expired at the end of last year.