PORTLAND NEWS: Multnomah County gets new emergency management director

Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler has named interim director David Houghton to head the county's Office of Emergency Management.

The announcement comes weeks after a scathing report by the District Attorney's Office that accused the agency charged with coordinating disaster response with "flagrant mismanagement and a systematic failure of basic record keeping" that created an environment "ripe for abuse."

NEWS-LEADER: Ex-trooper to head Missouri emergency agency

A former Missouri Highway Patrol troop commander has been named director of the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency.

Paul Parmenter, 61, was with Troop C for 11 years before his retirement in 2002 after serving in the patrol 29 years.

MOUNT VERNON NEWS: Blubaugh resigns; Hatton consulting

MOUNT VERNON — During a special meeting of the Knox County Emergency Management Executive Board, Thursday afternoon, board members unanimously voted to accept the resignation of Knox County EMA/Homeland Security Director Marie Blubaugh submitted by Blubaugh before the meeting.

Blubaugh’s resignation letter, read to the board by Assistant Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville, stated she had made the decision after meeting with her attorney. The resignation was effective immediately. The special meeting had been scheduled last week by the board to discuss the future of Blubaugh’s employment amidst allegations of misconduct.

Allegations against Blubaugh had included the misuse of her assigned county vehicle, a lack of communication by the director with her staff, and the forwarding of a recorded phone call between Deputy EMA Director Brian Hess and Mount Vernon Fire Chief Shawn Christy to Fredericktown EMS Chief Rick Lanuzza without the knowledge of Hess or Christy.

DAILY GAZETTE: Constantine to be appointed to emergency management position

SCHENECTADY — Majority Democrats in the Schenectady County Legislature plan to appoint Thomas P. Constantine as director of emergency management Tuesday night.

Constantine was a top contender for the vacant position of Schenectady County sheriff until he was knocked out, going so far as to change his party membership from Republican to Democrat.

Democrats are instead endorsing Rotterdam police Lt. Dominick Dagostino, a Conservative and the son of prominent Democratic county Legislator Judith Dagostino, vice chairwoman of the county Legislature.

STEAMBOAT PILOT & TODAY: 5 contend for emergency management job

Three first responders from Routt County are among the five finalists vying to fill Chuck Vale’s former position as county emergency management director. The other two finalists, chosen from 57 applicants, have previous emergency management experience but are from out of state, County Manager Tom Sullivan said.

CINCINNATTI.COM: Butler Co. director quietly leaves

William Turner finished his last day Monday as Butler County's emergency management director hundreds of miles from the agency he led for more than a decade.

WESTERN STAR: EMA now hiring

HAMILTON — Wanted: A new Butler County Emergency Management director. Must be professional. Preferably certified in emergency management. Must be politically savvy enough to pull local governments together when disaster strikes. But must not be solely a politician.

Deadline to apply is late March.

WNYT: Morrison Resigns: ‘I Have Made The Difficult Decision’

Glenn Morrison, Jefferson County Director of Emergency Management, has resigned.

Morrison said in a statement late Tuesday that “With great anticipation in a new career, I have made the difficult decision to resign my post within Jefferson County.”

WORCESTER TELEGRAM & GAZETTE: Emergency director hands in resignation

BOLTON — Emergency management director Donald Baum submitted his letter of resignation to selectmen last night, saying, “Things have to change and people need to come to meetings. You cannot operate with only one person.”

Mr. Baum, a firefighter and Department of Public Works employee and a volunteer emergency management director, had been asked to attend the meeting and discuss his emergency action plan’s success or failures in response to the Dec. 11-12 ice storm.

LIVINGSTON COMMUNITY NEWS: Donald Arbic promoted to emergency management director

On a 9-0 vote Tuesday, the Livingston County Board of Commissioners named Donald Arbic as director of central dispatch and emergency management, effective April 1. He will succeed Dick Winsett, who will be retiring at the end of March.

It marks a promotion for Arbic, who currently serves as the central dispatch operations director. The county personnel committee was directed to establish the pay grade for Arbic's new position.

"(Arbic) is well thought of in his peer group; the police chiefs and other public safety entities are supportive of him," said Dave Domas of Tyrone Township, who chairs the board's public safety-judicial committee.

"Arbic's job performance and conduct are excellent; people rave about the guy," said Board Vice Chairman Jack LaBelle of Brighton Township.

Part of Arbic's duties will be overseeing the operation of the county's 911 central dispatch service. The operation has come under criticism lately by the county's police chiefs, who have said they don't have enough input in its administration. Domas said he is confident Arbic will be able to mend fences and improve communications with the heads of law enforcement and other emergency response agencies such as the county's fire departments and EMS.

REPUBLICAN NEWSROOM: Chicopee seeking to hire an emergency management director

CHICOPEE - The city is advertising for an emergency management director, a position the fire chief has temporarily filled for more than three years.

The city last had a full-time emergency management director in October 2005, when Jeffrey A. Trask left to take another job.

Fire Chief Stephen S. Burkott says it's good news the city will once again have someone in that position.

"The community will benefit immensely having a full-time emergency management director," Burkott said. "The position, especially for a community our size, is very important."

Burkott said he's done the best he can filling in, but his responsibilities as chief are too great to give the attention needed to emergency management. "I'm excited to hear this," he said. "It's great news."

GASTON GAZETTE: Bob Phillips, Gaston's first emergency management director, dies

GASTONIA -- When conditions were at their worst, Bob Phillips was at his best.

Gaston County's first emergency management director, Phillips led evacuation and public safety efforts during hurricanes and other disasters for more than 15 years. He died of lung cancer in his home Saturday at the age of 76.

"He did his best, he gave his fullest to his job, and he did it right," said Martha Phillips, his wife of 53 years.

BRANSON DAILY NEWS: County pursues emergency center

KIMBERLING CITY — The Kimberling City Board of Aldermen received a request Tuesday night for a letter of support for an emergency operations center in Stone County.

Kimberling City Emergency Management Director Gary Lewis told aldermen that federal grant money is available from the Department of Homeland Security to fund the project.

On Tuesday morning, Stone County commissioners voted unanimously for the county’s emergency management director, Tom Martin, to pursue the grant funding.

HANNIBEL NET: Emergency management director receives congressional honor

Hannibal, MO —If all the certificates that John Hark has received during his life were hung up, he would have little wall space left in his Hannibal home. While most of them have been filed away, Hannibal’s emergency management director admits that he will find wall space for the Congressional Medal of Merit award, which he was nominated for by then-Congressman Kenny Hulshof in recognition of Hark’s efforts during the 2008 flood.

While the honor arrived Hark late last year, news of it only surfaced Tuesday night when City Manager Jeff LaGarce informed the members of the Hannibal City Council of the tribute.

“He definitely earned it,” said LaGarce.

Another emergency management program take-over

In a news report on citizen.com on December 30, 2008, it was reported that the Meredith emergency management director is stepping down.

The article noted that the emergency management director observed that the new director must be able to meet the commitment required of the position in today's environment.

In spite of that recommendation, the political leaders decide to get rid of the separate EM Director position and give the responsibility to the chief of police.

While Selectman Worsman said another option might be to have a separate individual take the position to provide a wider view of emergency management, the article quoted Selectman and Deputy Fire Chief Chuck Palm saying that he worked for a town with a similar system and "that did not work well at all."

While every jurisdiction is different, and there is no such thing as one size fits all, how does this make sense? Maybe it "did not work well" in that one town but that is not the consensus opinion across the country. This seems like another example of a lack of understanding of the emergency management profession and the roles and responsibilities of a local emergency manager. The political leaders should take another look at their decision, and make sure that it was decided with all the available information.

LACONIA CITIZEN: Emergency services head steps down

Meredith's emergency management director for the past 25 years is stepping down and will be replaced by the chief of police.

The selectmen accepted Steve Bennett's resignation at its meeting Monday evening. Bennett had submitted his intent to resign on Dec. 17.

Bennett had served in the position for the past 25 years, starting as the civil defense director and then as emergency management director. On Dec. 17, the town received a letter from Bennett resigning his position effective Jan. 1, 2009.

The emergency management director coordinates emergency management preparation and gives direction in a widespread emergency. Bennett helped compile the town's first emergency plan and has helped revise the plan, with the latest update in 2002.

Co-interim Town Manager John Edgar said he discussed the matter with the members of the hazard mitigation committee, including several department heads involved in emergency management issues.

"We concur with Steve Bennett's observation that the position of emergency management director is far different from what it was 25 years ago and that a new director must be able to make the time commitments required of this position," Edgar said in a staff report to the board. "We believe this appointment should be internal and come from the safety services/emergency management services professions."

Edgar said the matter was discussed by Police Chief Kevin Morrow and Fire Chief Ken Jones, resulting in the agreement that Morrow should fill the position. The respective chiefs are already involved in emergency management planning and it was viewed to be more efficient for the director to be directly involved in emergency services.

"Police and fire, we're first responders," Morrow said. "It doesn't matter what department you're in, we work as a team."

Selectman Colette Worsman expressed concern about how much the position would add to Morrow's work load.

Edgar said the position would "add a level of management" for Morrow, though he is already fully involved in the emergency planning process.

"I think it's pretty typical that the police chief and fire chief is involved," Edgar said. "I don't think that this is outside the norm."

Worsman said another option might be to have a separate individual take the position to provide a wider view of emergency management. Selectman and Deputy Fire Chief Chuck Palm said he worked for a town with a similar system and "that did not work well at all."

Edgar said members of any department and the public can give feedback as part of meetings of the hazard mitigation planning committee and the chiefs are available to the public.

The board unanimously approved Morrow as the emergency management director. The board also expressed its appreciation to Bennett for his work and will discuss how best to show that appreciation.