Plum appoints a familiar face as its new emergency management coordinator

Plum officials selected a familiar face as the borough’s new emergency management coordinator.

Jim Sims, retired Plum police sergeant and current Holiday Park fire chief, was appointed to the position Sept. 14 by a 5-0 vote.

Councilmen Mike Doyle and Mike Pastor were absent.

Sims takes over for Brian Turpin, former Unity Volunteer Fire Department chief, who resigned as coordinator after moving to Greensburg.

“I look forward to the opportunity,” Sims said. “I was Brian’s assistant for a while. My travels had me out of the area a lot, and now that has changed, so I’m more available. I’ve served Plum my entire adult life, and I look forward to continuing on.”

Joe Fischetti, borough buildings and grounds director, served as interim emergency management coordinator until council appointed Sims. Fischetti is now the assistant emergency management coordinator.

Sims said he plans to meet with Turpin soon to review the borough’s emergency management plan and update protocols.

Another duty of an emergency management coordinator is assisting responding agencies in a large-scale event to ensure personnel have the right resources in place.

Mayor Harry Schlegel said council could not have found a more qualified person to lead in the event of an emergency.

“Well deserved,” the mayor said. “He was a police officer here for many years, and had to medically retire because he was injured on the job. He’s been involved with all the fire departments as chief of Holiday Park for many years. I can’t think of a finer person to have that position. He’s knowledgeable, and he’ll do the job.”

Sims served as a Plum officer from 1980 to May 2004. He also worked as the borough’s emergency management coordinator from 1989-90.

He stepped down as coordinator to focus more on police and fire service.

Sims, 61, has been a firefighter since age 15. He was Holiday Park’s chief from 1981-88 and regained the position 2016 to present.

He also assists Plum EMS on occasion. Sims became an EMT in 1976 and has kept current on all required training.