Mayor submits name of fire chief candidate

Mayor Robert Weger has submitted the name of a candidate for fire chief to the city for confirmation.

Willoughby Hills Mayor Robert Weger has submitted the name of a candidate for fire chief to the city for confirmation.

The city’s fire department has not had a permanent full-time chief since September 2016 when Bobby DiSanto was asked to resign following allegations he falsified information on his application.

Since then the department has operated under several acting chiefs.

The instability in leadership at the department has been a result of the mayor and city council debating proper hiring procedures for department heads and the candidates.

Per the settlement agreement signed recently by both Weger and six council members to end lawsuits against each other, Weger was to pick one of the three candidates named in the agreement to submit to Council for confirmation as fire chief.

Of the three — Robert Gandee, Patty Heller and Thomas Talcott — Gandee was the mayor’s choice.

Gandee is currently a lieutenant with the Mentor and Kirkland fire departments.

Gandee was picked because he met all the qualifications, the Weger said.

According to Councilwoman Laura Pizmoht, the mayor did present a packet containing Gandee’s application and credentials to Council and those materials will be reviewed.

“Once the information is deemed sufficient, Council will draft an ordinance for confirmation of Mr. Gandee as fire chief,” Pizmoht said.

“Once an ordinance is presented by Council, Council will follow the three reading rule, meaning the ordinance will be presented at three consecutive council meetings, or waive the three-reading rule and vote on the ordinance on the first or second reading.”