MONORE — Following a rigorous nationwide recruitment process the City of Monroe Board of Police and Fire Commission (PFC) named William Erb as the next City of Monroe Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management.
Exceeding the minimum job qualifications, Erb was unanimously selected by the PFC as the ideal candidate to lead the City of Monroe Fire Department and continue the tradition of providing prompt, reliable fire and life safety services to the residents and visitors of Monroe through teamwork, communication, and professional career development.
Following the PFC’s appointment of Erb on November 23, 2021, the Common Council will consider and take possible action on Dec. 6, 2021, regarding a compensation resolution for the Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Management. Newly appointed Fire Chief Erb’s first day with the City of Monroe is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2022.
The PFC followed a comprehensive and pragmatic recruitment process led by executive recruitment firm GOVHR to find the ideal candidate. The PFC recruitment process included input solicited from all members of the Monroe Fire Department and other City stakeholders along with interview panels consisting of Monroe Fire Department members, community members and City Staff. With 25 years of progressive fire service experience with similar sized and structured volunteer fire departments [City of Coralville Fire Department, Iowa & Spirit Lake Community Fire Department, Spirit Lake, Iowa], Erb was selected as the most qualified and best fit to lead the City of Monroe Fire Department from the 31 applicants.
Erb’s experience includes fire prevention, control and management including strategic planning, emergency management, and experiences related to EMS and law enforcement where he advanced to the Chief of Police for the City of Sioux Rapids, Iowa.
The City recognized Interim Fire Chief Al Rufer for providing leadership and experience from assisting with the 2022 budget cycle to responding to emergency calls.
The following depicts a comprehensive recruitment timeline for the 2021 Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Management.
● Week of June 21, 2021: PFC accepted fire chief’s transition agreement and approved the GovHR USA services in the recruitment of the Fire Chief as authorized and funded by the City of Monroe Common Council.
● Week of July 5, 2021: PFC and GovHR USA collaborate to update job description, educational requirements, and qualifications (aka position announcement).
Ad source list and approval process reviewed, discussed process schedule timelines, etc.
Discussed interviews of Department Staff and other stakeholders to seek input on candidate experience, background, organizational challenges, opportunities, community challenges, issues, etc.
Discussed possibility of personnel engagement surveys sent to active Monroe Fire Department personnel only.
Consideration of utilizing external stakeholders in panel interview format.
● Week of July 12, 2021: Reviewed draft brochure.
Discussed additional survey to distribute to external stakeholders including area Chiefs, Emergency service providers, safety leaders of large businesses, city directors, and school districts.
Began consideration of interview process (panels, meet & greet, etc.)
PFC accepted and approved:
— position announcement
— advertising resource list
— sending personnel engagement surveys to active MFD with submittal deadline of July 30, 2021
● Week of July 19, 2021: PFC approved draft brochure for dissemination.
Recruitment position announcement and brochure posted for recruitment period (July 21-August 27, 2021).
Interim Fire Chief appointed and sworn in.
● Week of August 9, 2021: GovHR USA informed PFC members 20 responses received from firefighters on the MFD (approximately 2/3’s of the membership), deadline extended through the end of week.
Consideration of interview process (panels, meet & greet, etc.), goal to conduct interviews by early October or late September. Interviews will be done in closed session.
PFC accepted and approved personnel engagement survey distributed to external stakeholders including area Chiefs, Emergency service providers, safety leaders of large business, city directors, school districts by August 16th with a submittal deadline of August 31, 2021.
August 27th deadline for candidates resumes.
● Aug. 27-Sept. 11, 2021: GovHR USA reviews resumes, interviews candidates, conducts background reviews, due diligence, etc. Reference checks conducted and narrows down candidate pool from 30 to 8-10 for PFC consideration.
● Week of Sept. 6, 2021: GovHR USA presented PFC with internal and external personnel engagement survey results to help create a foundation for the strategy of interviews, as well as development of additional skills assessment tool.
Further consideration of interview process (panel composition and procedures).
● Week of Sept. 20, 2021: PFC and GovHR USA reviewed fire chief candidates in closed session.
PFC accepted and confirmed use of assessment center, scheduled for October 13th, results reviewed by PFC on October 14, 2021.
● Week of Oct. 11, 2021:
PFC confirmed candidates to interview in closed session and established interview process and date.
● Nov. 11, 2021: Finalists given brief tour of city facilities and then interviewed by 2 separate panels, including PFC members and external stakeholders such as area emergency service providers, MFD personnel, City Administrator and Police Chief.
At end of day PFC members have option to meet with finalists as a “whole”.
PFC could extend offer of employment to a finalist.
● Nov. 21, 2021: PFC appoints Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Management.
● Dec. 6, 2021: Common Council considers and possible action regarding compensation resolution for Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Management.
● Week of Jan. 10, 2021: New Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Management begins employment.
