Anchorage Daily News

PALMER -- The future of the long-time fire chief here is uncertain at best.

Dan Contini has led the fire fighting efforts in the Palmer area for the last 40 years -- the town's fire station house bears his name. But there is an effort to edge the 74-year-old out to greener pastures, according to a city council member.

Councilman Mike Chmielewski said City Manager Bill Allen has talked to the chief about his future.

"I know he's (Allen) had a discussion or two about Dan handing over the reins," Chmielewski said Wednesday.

Allen and Contini did not respond to phone calls Wednesday and Thursday.

Mayor John Combs and City Councilwoman Kathrine Vanover both refused to comment, saying Contini's future is a personnel matter and under the supervision of Allen.

"I know zip other than people calling me and wanting to know what's going on," said Vanover.

The chief serves under Jon Owen, Palmer's director of Public Safety, and answers to the city manager, Combs said.

Owen, who oversees both the fire and police departments, declined comment Wednesday, saying city employees typically don't discuss personnel issues. He referred questions to Allen.

Allen and Councilman Chmielewski were in Wrangell on Wednesday attending an Alaska Municipal League meeting.

Chmielewski said he believes Contini could continue working for the department.

"He has been offered some things he has been doing in the past, but not chief, " Chmielewski said. "He'll (Contini) be able to make a good decision that's best for him and the fire department."

Chmielewski has known Contini for several years including his three years of service as an EMT in the same fire station as the chief.

They also served six years together on the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School Board where Contini served four terms, ending last October.

Contini's wife, Enola, said Wednesday that a local newspaper report suggesting Contini was being pushed out as chief "was blown out of proportion."

"Dan will retire on his own schedule," she said.

Bruce Bush, a lifelong farmer and neighbor of Contini, said Contini should be allowed to stay.

"He should retire when he wants to. He's the youngest 74-year-old I know," he said.

Bush, a former Borough assemblyman, said he also worked with Contini on local issues and didn't always agree with him, but "that didn't matter."

Contini's experience and common sense is an asset to Palmer, he said.

"He could see fire as a tool, not always an enemy. He didn't come to your aid unless you wanted it," Bush said.

"These new guys want to keep you safe when you don't want to be saved."

Bush recalled Contini had even acted occasionally in the past as city manager.

"I still go to him if I have problems with the city," Bush said.

Mayor Combs praised Contini for his decades of service.

"He built the fire service area from the ground up. The respect for him is printed on the building," Combs said, referring to downtown fire station named for the chief.

Combs also credited Contini for developing a top-notch group of volunteer firefighters.

"They're a great bunch of people," he said. "They're very well thought of around here."

The mayor grew up in Palmer and was 17 when he first met Contini.

"He was always teaching fire safety to kids and gave kids rides on the fire engines. I remember more than once he would be an hour past his time to quit and he would be waiting on one kid who was late to make sure he got a ride on the fire engine. That's the kind of heart he has."

Find T.C. Mitchell at adn.com/contact/tcmitchell or call 352-6716.

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