Arnold Council has abolished the position of city fire chief.
Mayor Joseph Bia said the position was eliminated because the chief, J.C. Tedorski, responded to only four calls last year, none this year and has not been at a city council meeting for more than a year.
Bia said having a fire chief to oversee the city’s two departments, each of which has its own chief and officers, is not required.
Councilman Phil McKinley said he voted against abolishing the position because Tedorski told him no one had spoken with him to ask him any questions or find out what was going on first.
“To me, it’s just not right if you’re not going to talk to him,” McKinley said. “How can you abolish any position or know what’s going on unless you talk to him?”
Tedorski had been city fire chief since April 2008, overseeing the city’s two fire companies.
He works as Kiski Area School District’s director of technology services.
Tedorski said his availability to answer calls and attend Arnold Council meetings became limited because he has been working on a doctorate degree, which he expects to complete in August, and other life matters.
McKinley said he knew of those issues.
“He’s a certified instructor through the state. He does things other than come to council meetings. He attends training seminars and other seminars across the state,” McKinley said. “Nobody ever discussed with me why (the position was abolished). I wasn’t given a clear reason why it was a good idea to abolish that.”
Tedorski said he harbors no ill will because of council’s decision.
“The new administration has decided to go in a different direction. I fully understand that,” he said. “They want the two fire companies to work independently under their station chiefs. They felt the city oversight position was no longer needed. I get that.”
Tedorski said he remains an active firefighter with Arnold Volunteer Engine Co. No. 2 and responds to fire calls when he can.
His father, John Tedorski, served 56 years with No. 2, including 16 years as its chief. He died in March 2017.
Bia said the city will save money by abolishing the position instead of replacing Tedorski.
The city paid Tedorski $300 per year, city Administrator Mario Bellavia said.
