Lower Makefield Township’s new Fire Services Director Tim Chamberlain, second from left, stands with his wife, Michelle, and their two young children Andrew and Audrey at the March 16 supervisors meeting. In the back row, from left, are Supervisors Fredric Weiss, James McCartney, Suzanne Blundi and John Lewis.
Chris English
Posted
By Chris English
Lower Makefield Township officials have hired a man they consider the ideal candidate to fill the newly created position of fire services director.
The supervisors voted unanimously at their March 16 meeting to approve Tim Chamberlain for the position. He has signed on to a four-year employment agreement that kicks in May 2 and extends through May 1, 2026.
Chamberlain, a township resident, has been deputy chief of the Yardley-Makefield Volunteer Fire Company for the past nine years and is a 20-year member there. He has also been a professional paid firefighter in Newtown Township for 14 years.
In addition, Chamberlain has a bachelor’s degree in applied science and technology and teaches fire suppression courses at Bucks County Community College.
“He has experience in every part of fire service,” Lower Makefield Manager Kurt Ferguson said. “His background is phenomenal. People will be very, very impressed with him. I’ve never been prouder of any hire I’ve been involved with.”
Chamberlain attended the meeting with his wife, Michelle, and their two young children, Andrew and Audrey.
“A true honor,” he said of getting the job. “It’s another way to give to my community. I’m looking forward to the challenges and helping to make the fire service grow in Lower Makefield Township.”
Chamberlain’s employment agreement gives him a starting annual salary of $102,000. There are no specific provisions in the document for annual salary increases after the first year, and his pay after that will be determined by township officials on a year-to-year basis, Ferguson said.
Among Chamberlain’s many duties as fire services director will be working with the township’s code enforcement officer in administering the Fire Code, identifying and recommending efficiencies through mutual aid and regionalization, coordinating fire prevention programs, assisting the volunteer fire company with administrative and regulatory actions and serving as the principal liaison between the volunteer fire company and township personnel and officials.
Like volunteer fire companies throughout the country, Yardley-Makefield has had trouble attracting and retaining members in recent years, and Lower Makefield officials are hoping Chamberlain can help with that as well.
Ferguson said the township is also close to officially hiring people for three other newly created full-time positions: planner, pools manager and administrative assistant in the Parks and Recreation Department. He said the township has selected people for all three jobs and is conducting background checks and finalizing other details before officially announcing the hires.
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