Hollister Fire Chief Fred Cheshire, subject of the fire union’s no-confidence vote earlier this year, is set to retire in April.
City officials discussed Cheshire’s pending retirement at Monday’s council meeting. When he departs, he will have five years on the job as leader of the Hollister Fire Department. Cheshire, age 51, began his career with the local fire department in 1989.
He took over as interim fire chief, succeeding Bill Garringer, in the spring of 2007 at a time when Hollister was already in the midst of reductions to public safety departments. Those cuts have continued through the years, and Cheshire may have paid the price seven months ago.Â
In May, the Hollister Firefighters Association issued a no-confidence vote against the chief – largely due to budgeting issues and allegations of violations to the union contract.
Councilman Robert Scattini asked the city manager Monday about the process of replacing Cheshire. City Manager Clint Quilter said staff officials are working on the job description for a recruitment.
Cheshire could not be reached immediately for comment.
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