Towne officially out as chief

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Towne officially out as chief

Posted by

Susan Norman

in Top Stories & Breaking News, Winder Archives

Thursday, August 12. 2010

Comments (7)

Barrow County’s newly hired chief of emergency services is out. And for the second time this year, the search for a new chief is on.

Following an hour-long closed session Tuesday night, the Barrow County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to terminate the employment of Donald Towne due to an unresolved criminal allegation in South Georgia.

The board also decided to start a new search for a permanent chief, opting not to go with the candidate who ranked third in the earlier search. That candidate is a female fire captain who has worked for the Fulton County Fire Rescue Department for 16 years and holds four college degrees.

Human Resources Director Norma Jean Brown said shortly after Towne’s July 9 arrest that if the board were to terminate him within his first 90 days of employment, the county’s policy called for the commissioners to offer the job to the next highest-ranking candidate. But on Wednesday, Brown clarified that the policy offers that as an option, not a requirement.

CHAIRMAN’S RECOMMENDATION
Towne was the second highest-ranking candidate. He was hired after the top candidate withdrew his application following a meeting with the county chairman.

Towne held the position for only 18 days before his surprise arrest July 9 by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for allegedly taking $800 in cable television services from his former employer, the south Georgia city of Cairo.

Towne has argued, vehemently, that the alleged theft of services, which dated back to 2007 when he was first hired as Cairo’s fire chief, had been a misunderstanding between him and the city manager who hired him.

For more on this story, see the August 11 edition of the Barrow Journal or click here to read the full story online when you subscribe to our new e-edition.

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#1 Registered Voter on 08/12/10 at 07:15 AM [Reply]

"after the top candidate withdrew his application following a meeting with the county chairman."

I would love to have heard more about this.

#2 Anonymous on 08/12/10 at 07:16 AM [Reply]

So why don't we make the "acting" fire chief the permanent fire chief?

If he doesn't have all the qualification, then allow him to get them. Give him the position on the contingency that he get 1.... 2... or whatever is needed within a set time frame.

Seems to me, he's been doing a bang up job "acting" a fire chief and he willingly steps up to the plate each time the BOC screws up in it's selection.

#3 mark my words on 08/12/10 at 07:25 AM [Reply]

It seems that #3 is the most qualified of all. Why was she not #1 in the first place?

#3.1 Anonymous on 08/12/10 at 09:09 AM [Reply]

Those "qualifications" along with being female sounds like asking for trouble. These type people usually have everyone walking on eggshells because they feel they have the right to sue over every little thing. They're usually more trouble than they're worth.

#3.1.1 Anonymous on 08/14/10 at 07:54 PM [Reply]

It would appear you have a negative idea of women who have earned their education, and obviously have proven themself in promotional processs in Fulton County. Their education, training, and experience obviously impressed the selection committee of Barrow County if she was ranked third. I can only imagine that she has walked a hard path in a male dominated occupation such as firefighting and I can bet that path has been through fire. You should judge the book after you read it and not by the cover. Two lines in the Barrow Journal did not define this woman's character or qualifications it only mentioned she had four college degrees, obviously she can commit and finish a task.

#4 I agree on 08/12/10 at 09:45 AM [Reply]

with Anonymous (#2) Making acting chief Skinner the real chief makes sense. While they're cleaning house at the county, maybe they could take a look at the HR director. She doesn't seem to have a clue about what her job is or how to do it

#5 TickedOff on 08/12/10 at 03:37 PM [Reply]

It would be the right thing to do in hiring Skinner. Thats why Barrow Co. won't do it. Hell, he's been in charge longer as interim than the last two chiefs we've had, hes a hometown guy(now I know what that sounds like) but we know him and he doesnt have any skeletons. SOOOO, why doesnt the HR director rewrite policy on nepotism, and hire Skinner?
I already told you, thats the right thing to do for the county and Skinner. They'd rather get themselves between a rock and hard place over this 90 day deal or go find another loser to take over one of our most important positions. It seems blatantly apparent no one wants the job under our current commission except those already corrupt.

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