MONROE — Monroe’s new Fire Chief will be paid between $99,000 and about $112,000, city officials say, on the heels of a recent agreement that made acting Chief Al Rufer the organization’s permanent leader.

The range was negotiated by the city and the exact pay rate is not yet available, according to City Administrator Brittney Rindy, as those issues are subject to personnel negotiations.

“This correlates with the pay range…approved by the council,” said Rindy, via email.

Rufer was officially named chief by the Police and Fire Commission on Oct. 5.

By action of the City Council, Rufer also will get credited 8 years of service for his paid time off accruals. 

The hiring of Rufer ended a long period in which the all-volunteer fire department had either no chief or an interim chief. 

An Ad-Hoc Committee was formed earlier last year after a prolonged search for a new fire chief ended in failure and officials said they were increasingly frustrated and concerned about the department. 

The committee presented a list of eight recommendations to the council at its regular May 15, 2023 meeting — those include a move to create a new strategic plan for the department using a third-party consultant; and for more communication and cooperation between Monroe Fire and the Monroe Rural Fire Protection District. 

In other personnel related news, city employees will now have President’s Day in February, and Columbus Day in October as paid holidays. The need for the change was detailed in a recent wage/compensation study the city commissioned showing Monroe on the low end of paid holidays for municipal workers.

“The City of Monroe currently provides 9 paid holidays for the employees,” city staff wrote to members of the council, who voted to approve the measure. “The McGrath Wage and Compensation study recommended increasing that by approximately 2 additional holidays. Comparable communities provide a range of 9-14 paid holidays, leaving the city at the minimum of that range.”