Employees from Proshell Construction Services Inc. install rebar while employees from Pomeroy Electric Incorporated install conduit during the construction of the new fire station on State Road A1A in front of Highland Beach Town Hall. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Rich Pollack
With just nine months to go before it starts its own fire-rescue department — the county’s first new municipal department in 30 years — Highland Beach is gearing up its recruiting process as it seeks to fill almost two dozen new positions.
At the same time, construction of a new fire station is under way with the foundation set and the pouring of what will essentially be the ground floor of the two-story building scheduled for this month.
“Everything is on schedule and we’re working through the details,” said Fire Chief Glenn Joseph.
The town recently closed applications for three fire captain positions — one per shift — and received 43 applications, Joseph said. Of those, 33 met the requirements for the job.
At the beginning of August, Joseph said he has narrowed down the applicants to 11 and soon will begin interviews, making a final selection within a few months.
While the number of captain applicants is much higher than the jobs available, the numbers of those applying for six driver positions and 15 firefighter/paramedic positions have been much smaller.
As of late last month, the town had received 11 applications for drivers and 33 applications for firefighter/paramedics.
The driver position has a pay range of $74,176 to $110,946 per year, while the firefighter/paramedic is $65,522 to $89,166 per year. The captain salary range is $84,500 to $114,993. There is also a maximum $10,000 incentive for all ranks for Florida-certified paramedics.
Joseph said the department wants to have at least twice the number of applicants needed for each open position.
The chief believes the disparity in the number of applicants for captain compared with those for driver and firefighter/paramedic may be due to where individuals are in their careers.
“A lot of the applicants for captain are either retired or retiring,” he said, adding that some have expressed an interest in being involved in a new fire department.
He said one of the challenges in hiring for the other positions is that people already in those jobs may be happy where they are and not ready to move.
Another possible obstacle in the town’s effort to recruit experienced firefighter/paramedics who are in the earlier stages of their careers may be the low volume of calls — an average of about three a day. That, says Town Manager Marshall Labadie, might deter people who are looking for more activity.
“We’re looking for someone with experience who either wants to return or who wants to get involved with starting a fire department,” Joseph said.
As it continues to prepare for the transition from having fire-rescue service provided by Delray Beach, the town recently hired Matt Welhaf, a former Boca Raton fire marshal, to be assistant chief of community risk reduction.
Welhaf will handle roles traditionally assigned to a fire marshal, including inspections and construction plan reviews, but he also will provide services to residents such as fall prevention inspections and oversight of CPR classes.
“We want to have a more active presence in the community so we can be proactive,” Joseph said.
Labadie and Joseph said that once the new department is in place, building fire inspections will be provided at no cost.
“We want to build a relationship between our fire-rescue department and our residents,” Labadie said.
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