Beaver trustees plan to move deputy into fire chief vacancy

NORTH LIMA — Beaver Township trustees said they have a candidate in mind for the fire chief’s post when Gary Borman retires next year.

Officials said they’re looking to move Deputy Fire Chief Russ Osborne into Borman’s position and plan to negotiate Osborne’s annual salary as chief when that move is made.

In the meantime Osborne will fill in for Borman when the chief is away.

Apparently Borman, who has been with the township fire department more than 20 years, has several weeks of vacation and sick time accumulated that he intends to use up before leaving his post for good.

Borman told township officials in June he intended to retire sometime this year or next.

The trustees said they began the interviewing process shortly after Borman’s announcement. At Borman’s recommendation, the township enlisted the help of a fire commission made up of area fire chiefs to help narrow the field.

Osborne, who was among a pool of 11 candidates, was offered the job of deputy fire chief earlier this month with the intention of promotion. He was with the township fire department part time more than 10 years. Part-time fire personnel are paid $10 for each call they respond to, officials explained.

Osborne’s wage as full-time deputy fire chief is $15 an hour, plus benefits.

Osborne, a General Motors retiree, has also worked for the Canfield Fire Department.

Borman become the township’s first full-time fire chief in 2000, after serving in that capacity on a part-time basis for three years.