Hillside provisional Fire Chief Joachim Behnke, in his second stint as interim chief, continues to lead the department despite failing an oral examination required for permanent appointment.
Behnke, the township council'schoice to be chief, has served 17 months of his current term as the provisional department head. The 30-year department veteran also was provisional chief in 1995-96.
Civil service rules stipulate a provisional appointment can be no longer than 12 months, and the state Department of Personnel has ordered Hillside to make a permanent fire chief appointment by Sept. 7.
Deputy Chief Robert Kreszl scored highest on the test and has veteran's preference under the state civil service program, making it mandatory that he become chief. However, he has not been contacted by any township official.
