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Posted on Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 5:15 a.m.

Dominick Lanza sworn in as Ann Arbor fire chief

By David Jesse

When the Ann Arbor City Council meeting began Monday evening, Dominick Lanza was at his new house, watching movers unload boxes.

About an hour later, he was in front of City Council, swearing to protect residents as the city’s new fire chief.

Next Monday, he’ll be in his new office, meeting with his command staff and all his employees.

A key topic certain to be addressed - the city’s financial struggles.

“There’s only certain solutions you can do before it comes down to people,” he said a short time after being sworn in. “The firefighters have already approved a pay cut. We’re going to look at everything we can do.”

He mentioned meeting with other city departments to discuss items being paid for out of the fire budget that could be combined with other departments to save money. The city has told the firefighters union it is considering laying off 19 people and eliminating another vacant position to help deal with a budget shortfall. Earlier this year the firefighters' union accepted pay cuts to avoid the layoff of 13 firefighters. The city also plans to eliminate 17 jobs in the police department.

Lanza has spent nearly his entire adult life as a career fire-rescue professional, serving as a firefighter, paramedic, battalion chief and assistant chief. He began his firefighting career as a volunteer with the City of Lauderhill, Fla., fire department, where he was later hired as a professional firefighter in 1973.

His career experience also includes more than 30 years of service with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue in Fort Lauderdale, from which he retired as assistant chief of operations in 2007.

Lanza has an associate’s degree in fire science from Broward Community College and a bachelor of science degree in management from Nova Southeastern University.

He’s been following Ann Arbor since October he said, keeping up with the news through the media.

“You can’t know all the issues until you’re actually on the inside,” he said. “I have met some of the people here and I know I’m going be working with good people.”

He’ll be paid $108,000 a year under the terms of his contract.He’ll also get a car allowance and cell phone stipend.

David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.

Comments

Mick52

Wed, Mar 17, 2010 : 12:51 p.m.

Car allowance and cell phone stipend. Honda? Toyota? Cadillac? Lincoln? Why is it that such freebies are given to those who can most easily afford it? Isn't the $108k enough? I would bet plenty of applicants would settle for just the salary. Please AA.com, put the figures in the articles.

Gill

Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 2:43 p.m.

He's already retired once, what does he care if he gets "retired" again.

Awakened

Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 8:09 a.m.

Good Luck to the new Chief.

racerx

Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 5:18 a.m.

Phone stipend? Will he be able to use it while driving?!?