Five applicants, including three internal Starkville Fire Department employees, will interview March 30 for the city’s vacant fire chief position.
Aldermen narrowed the 10-person field to five Tuesday and set interviews to begin 5 p.m. at the Starkville Sportsplex.
Of the five internal applicants, three moved forward in the process: Fire Marshal Stein McMullen, Battalion Chief Curtis Randle and Training Officer Charles Yarbrough.
Two external candidates — Columbus Fire and Rescue Accreditation Manager Mike Chandler and Okolona Fire Chief Terry Tucker — will also interview for the position.
Chandler, 51, joined CFR in 1995 after starting his career as a firefighter in 1988. He was promoted to captain in 2003 and moved to his current role in 2012.
McMullen, 40, joined SFD as a firefighter in 1996 and later was promoted to fire inspector. In 2005, he was promoted to one of the city’s two fire marshal positions.
Randle, a 25-year SFD veteran, serves as one of the department’s three battalion chiefs.
Tucker, 53, has served as Okolona’s chief for eight years. He joined Amory’s fire department in 1982 and became a certified EMT in 1984. Tucker also serves as Monroe County’s fire coordinator and Miss. Fire Chiefs Association president.
Yarbrough, 43, joined the department as a firefighter in 1995. He was promoted to sergeant and lieutenant shortly after but decided to pursue an administrative career through training and educational efforts. He was named training officer in 2008.
Internal candidate left out of interviews
One Starkville firefighter, Capt. Andy Sharp, was denied an opportunity to interview with the board after Ward 2 Alderman Lisa Wynn took issue with the timeliness of his application.
Personnel Director Randy Boyd said Sharp submitted an application with limited information — only his name and the fact he works for Starkville — before the process’ closing date. A completed application was delivered to Boyd Monday, he said, and that document was distributed to aldermen.
Although Boyd recommended the city interview McMullen, Randle, Tucker and Yarbrough, Wynn attempted a motion that would interview all internal and external except for Sharp.
Wynn pressed Boyd to confirm Sharp’s application should be considered invalid since aldermen have drawn criticism from other appointments and the timeliness of their applications.
“I don’t want to play games. You’re telling me he did not submit a completed application before the deadline, yes or no?” she asked Boyd. “If he submitted a completed one, he wouldn’t have had to submit anything after that. So the answer is no.”
Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver attempted to add Sharp’s name to the list, but his action drew claims of potential liability issues from Wynn.
“If Sharp becomes chief, the first thing the other applicants would say is he didn’t submit his information on time,” she said.
Board attorney Chris Latimer said aldermen could choose to interview Sharp because of his first application, the safest route the city could take would be excluding the applicant because of the board’s desire to adhere to strict application processes.
“I don’t think I have the votes to carry, but I think it’s unfortunate we can’t interview Andy Sharp. I think everyone here knows his character as a man in the community and his qualifications as a firefighter,” Carver said. “It’s unfortunate we don’t at least throw him on here to listen to what he has to say at least for the benefit of the department.”
Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard seconded Carver’s amendment, but Carver rescinded the motion in light of Latimer’s advice.
Sharp, 60, joined SFD in 1990. He has worked through the ranks, earning promotions to sergeant, lieutenant and captain. Sharp has also served as an acting battalion chief on and off for about a year.
The board eventually shortened the list to five interviewees since aldermen will allocate 30 minutes per interview.
The city did not respond to a Freedom of Information Act request for candidates’ applications and resumes Wednesday.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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