N.C. Chief Requests to Go Back to Deputy Postion

Dec. 21--For the second time in a little more than two years, the administrative staff within the Clinton Fire Department is set for a transformation -- and a new chief.

After more than two years as fire chief in Clinton, Todd Solice has announced that he wishes to resume his previous role as deputy fire chief, a capacity in which he served from 2001 until his promotion to chief in September 2009.

Deputy Chief Jamie Beasley left the department on Dec. 9 to pursue other interests, notably farming. Solice submitted a letter to city manager John Connet requesting he be allowed to resign as fire chief and resume his former role as deputy chief upon Beasley's departure.

"During Solice's tenure as chief, the department has made strides to improve service and professionalism," a statement released by the city of Clinton read. "Todd Solice helped develop and implement performance measures for the department and oversaw the development of new training standards, which included the creation of a training officer position."

However, Solice said there are things he wants to do that being a fire chief has not afforded him the time to pursue. He said he enjoys the fire operations associated with the deputy position and believes serving in that position will allow him to accomplish more in the department while providing time to complete other tasks.

Solice's hire in September 2009 came after an extensive five-month hiring process, one that included public input sessions, focus groups and an evaluation of more than 40 applicants for the local fire chief position. Of those, three finalists were chosen to participate in an assessment center after supplemental applications and telephone interviews.

In all, the city conducted seven focus groups to receive input from city officials, fire and emergency personnel, business and industry representatives and everyday citizens. who brainstormed and identified characteristics and abilities needed in the next chief. Their comments were then used to formulate the actual assessment center utilized in evaluating candidates for the job.

Following the focus groups, a human resource specialist generated a list of key dimensions to be used during the assessment center that would help gauge the knowledge, skills and abilities of each of the candidates by identifying their strengths, weaknesses and tendencies.

"We felt it was important for the community to be involved in identifying the qualities needed for an important position such as fire chief," Connet said at the time. "The assessment center was an important part of the hiring process and proved to be a valuable tool in identifying the desired qualities in each candidate."

Assistant city manager Shawn Purvis said the process is just as valuable now as it was then.

While an outside agency was used to conduct the assessment center in 2009, city officials say the blueprint has already been established and most of the legwork done.

"We're planning to open advertising up in January after the holidays and run it until mid-February," said Purvis. "Since it's been a relatively short time since Todd was hired, we plan to use all the same criteria we gathered. We feel a lot of the same criteria applies to what the public wants to see in its fire chief."

The fire chief is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Clinton Fire Department. Duties include establishing a mission and direction for the department's future, developing and managing fire department personnel, developing the department's annual budget and coordinating community outreach programs for fire prevention and safety education.

Many participants during previous focus groups said they wanted their fire chief to be a good communicator, capable of multi-tasking and a leader with the skill to assess their own staff's strengths and weaknesses.

Purvis said there will still be an assessment center of sorts, by which local and other officials cull through a list of selected candidates, evaluating them on the selected criteria, as well as their job and management experience.

"It will be a similar process," said Purvis, "but already having the criteria from public input sessions, we will run it in house."

Solice served as interim chief for several months following former chief Philip Miller's departure in April 2009 before taking the reins. He has been with the department for 22 years, first joining the Clinton Fire Department as a part-time firefighter in November 1989. He worked his way up through the ranks over the next two decades, becoming a lieutenant in 1996 and a captain in 1999. He was promoted to deputy chief under Miller in 2001.

Solice expressed his own enthusiasm upon his hire to the chief position two years ago, saying he was glad to have the opportunity to continue his career at the helm of a department where he has worked so long.

That same excitement still exists, regardless of the change in job titles.

"I appreciate the opportunity given to me and the support I have received while being fire chief," Solice stated. "I will continue to do my job to the best of my ability to serve and protect the citizens of Clinton."

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137 ext. 121 or via email at [email protected].