California man in line for fire chief job
Assuming the city and Bob Webber can come to a contract agreement, Columbia Falls has a new fire chief.
Webber, a professional firefighter with more than 20 years of experience, was the top candidate among 14 applicants vying to replace Doug Nash, the city's first-ever full-time chief.
Nash was on probation for eight months before he was released over leadership issues last October.
Webber, a battalion chief and assistant director of fire services for Pinkerton Government Services Inc. in El Segundo, Calif., passed muster on Thursday and Friday with a selection committee, the city's volunteer fire department and City Manager Bill Shaw.
On Monday night, the City Council affirmed Shaw's recommendation to negotiate a contract with Webber.
As he and his wife, Antoinette, and their three children drove back from their Montana visit Tuesday morning, Webber said he was happy about the news. He said he and his family were pleased with their investigation of Columbia Falls school curriculum, residents and atmosphere of the town, offerings for youth and family activities.
"In meeting the man, obviously the guy has a thorough understanding of fire department issues and firefighting," Shaw said. "He has a thorough understanding of a small department."
Webber lives in Wrightwood, Calif., a tiny mountain town at 6,000 feet elevation about 90 minutes east of Los Angeles.
Pinkerton, a national company providing contract fire services to corporations and municipalities, placed him in his current position in 2002. In 2004 he became a fire academy instructor in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.
Webber also volunteers as a firefighter with the San Bernardino County Fire Department in Wrightwood and has served as president of its fire association. He also has served with fire departments in Morongo Valley, Palmdale and Wildomar, Calif.
Shaw said he didn't think Webber would need training to take the Columbia Falls job, other than becoming EMT-certified in Montana.
He said the selection committee looked at three finalists, but landed on Webber as their top pick.
"I think only this one guy was sincerely interested in coming," Shaw said, "and we were only interested in him."
Shaw told the council he wants to offer Webber a salary in the upper end of the advertised range of $40,000-$44,000.
Webber will be offered $3,000 for moving expenses with the condition that he stay with the job for two years or be required to repay a portion of that moving allowance.
Shaw said Webber had asked that he not be required to be in Columbia Falls full time until June 6 or 7 so his children can finish the school year. Acting Chief Joe Tamburelli said he could continue handling the job until then, and the council agreed.
Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com