PORT TOWNSEND — District commissioners established a temporary chain of command Wednesday after East Jefferson Fire-Rescue Chief Chuck Tandy resigned Tuesday.
“Currently, fire chief responsibilities have been split between Gordon Pomeroy and Ted Krysinski,” both assistant chiefs, said Rich Stapf Jr., chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
“Specific appointments will be made at the next regularly scheduled commissioners meeting, or possibly sooner.”
The next regularly scheduled commissioners meeting is to be 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at Fire Station 1-5, 35 Critter Lane.
Until then, “all three chiefs will continue working closely with the board on a day-to-day basis for direction and oversight,” Stapf said.
Krysinski is in charge of the district’s training, and Pomeroy oversees the emergency medical services.
Tandy, who had served as chief for eight months, resigned Tuesday night at a special meeting of the commissioners saying the job had become secondary to family issues.
Tandy and the commissioners met in executive session for an hour and 20 minutes before he resigned in open session.
At that time, Stapf said the district would potentially hold another special session to announce personnel changes. No special session is currently scheduled.
Tandy began serving as lead for the district on Jan. 15 of this year. At that time, the district — which serves Port Townsend, Cape George, Chimacum, Irondale, Kala Point, Marrowstone Island and Port Hadlock — had been without a permanent chief since former Chief Mike Mingee left in January 2008 for a position as the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District chief in Santa Barbara County, Calif.
During that period, Assistant Chief Chuck Boggs served as interim chief.
Boggs is currently serving as assistant chief in charge of facilities in the district.
Keppie Keplinger, spokeswoman for the district, said there currently was no plan in place or timetable for hiring a new, full time chief.
“Our obligation at this time, as it has always been, is to serve the district with fire and EMS service,” she said.
“That is what we continue to do.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
