Crescent Fire Commission holds closed-session screening interviews for fire chief candidates and confirms report

The Crescent Fire Commission met May 4 for a special session to conduct initial screening interviews for two candidates for fire chief, convening in closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85 before reconvening and confirming the closed-session report.

The meeting opened with the Chair calling the session to order and taking roll; Commissioners Dorf, Cobb, Sherman and Wolcott were recorded as present and Commissioner Knox excused. With no objections, the commission approved the agenda by general consensus and proceeded to the sole item: initial screening interviews for fire chief candidates.

Citing Wisconsin Statute 19.85 as the legal basis to discuss personnel matters in private, the commission voted to move into closed session to consider employment and performance data. "The commission may convene in closed session pursuant to section 19.85," the Chair said, and a motion to do so was made by Commissioner Dorf and seconded by Commissioner Sherman. The commission voted to enter closed session by unanimous consent; the recording was stopped while the commission met privately.

After returning to open session, the Chair reported that the commission had interviewed two potential fire chief candidates. "We will score those interviews and combine that data with the others when we complete the interviews next week," the Chair said. The commission moved to accept and confirm the report of what occurred in closed session; Commissioner Sherman moved to confirm, the motion received a second, and Commissioner Dorf recorded an abstention. The motion to confirm carried.

The commission concluded its brief special meeting and adjourned by general consent. Commissioners said interviews will continue next week and that scores from this session will be combined with results from subsequent interviews.

What’s next: The commission will continue screening interviews next week and combine scores across all candidates before any public action or appointment.