The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Joint Fire District appoints, swears in new chief
If there was one factor that distinguished Chiappone from the other chief prospects, it was the fact that he completed the Ohio Fire Executive Program, Walker noted.
Dominic Chiappone has taken the oath to begin serving as the next chief of the Perry Joint Fire District.
Chiappone, who currently serves as a lieutenant in the district, was sworn in as chief during the May 6 meeting of the Perry Joint Fire District Board. He’ll take over the top position in the district on June 4, a day after Chief James McDonald retires.
McDonald has served about 19 ½ years as Perry Joint District chief. He’ll be wrapping up a career of more than 40 years in the firefighting profession.
Chiappone recited the oath administered by Fire Board Chairman Rick Walker at the conclusion of the panel’s May 6 meeting. Earlier during that gathering, the board officially appointed Chiappone to lead the district and set his starting salary at $104,809 per year.
A large audience packed the meeting room at the Perry Township Administration Building to watch the new chief’s installation. Standing alongside Chiappone during the ceremony was his wife, Kelly, and two of the couple’s sons: Matteo, who’s 7 months old; and 7-year-old Micah.
Chiappone began working for the Perry Joint Fire District in 2004 as a part-time firefighter and paramedic. He was appointed as a full-time firefighter and paramedic in 2006, before earning the rank of lieutenant in 2018.
During his career with the district, Chiappone has performed duties as a fire instructor, inspector and investigator. He also is a 2018 graduate of the Ohio Fire Executive Program, which is administered by the Ohio Fire and Emergency Services Foundation.
The OFE Program assesses, enhances and refines the leadership qualities of fire chiefs, as well as high-potential senior officers who can move into positions of greater responsibility.
Chiappone said that becoming Perry Joint Fire District chief has been a goal of his for a while.
“So to achieve it feels really
good,” he said.
McDonald informed the fire board early last year that he intended to retire in June of 2022. The board then said it would strive to choose a new chief from within the district at least a year ahead of McDonald’s retirement.
The intent of that hiring strategy was to have McDonald’s successor work closely with the chief for an extended period to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Three high-ranking Perry Joint Fire District officers, including Chiappone, applied for the chief’s position.
“We got three candidates who were extremely qualified, any of whom would have been finely suited to run the fire district moving forward,” said Walker, the fire board’s chairman.
Walker said all three prospects interviewed very well, and each provided a plan outlining how they would lead the fire district over the next five years.
“All of those (five-year plans) were amazing,” Walker said.
If there was one factor that distinguished Chiappone from the other chief prospects, it was the fact that he completed the Ohio
Fire Executive Program, Walker noted.
“It’s a 2 ½-year program he took on voluntarily before (the plan to replace McDonald) was ever even announced,” Walker said. “The program gives you perspective of being an administrative individual in the fire service. And I think that’s obviously the board’s opinion of how that put (Chiappone) over the top.”
In June of last year, the fire board announced it had selected Chiappone to eventually replace McDonald.
Chiappone said that working in conjunction with McDonald for nearly a year provided valuable insight into how the district’s chief functions.
“Chief McDonald is a big mentor of mine and just allowing me to sit day to day with him in the office and showing me what he does has helped out a lot,” Chiappone said.
In addition to working for 18 years in the Perry Joint Fire District, Chiappone also worked part-time for the Fairport Harbor Fire Department from 2002 to 2008 and the Painesville Township Fire Department from 2004 to 2006.
Chiappone also earned an associate’s degree in fire science technology from Lakeland Community College in 2005.
The Perry Joint Fire District, which was formed in 2002, provides fire protection and EMS services for Perry and North Perry villages, and Perry Township.