Fire captain's retirement approved

MARION - The retirement of Captain Bruce Plumer from the Marion Fire Department was approved on Monday night by the Marion City Council.

Mayor Anthony Rinella, a former fire chief, recalled that on Plumer's first day he was called out for a dryer fire and then a structure fire and a car-extrication that involved cutting down a tree to free the driver.

"We got our money's worth out of him on his first shift," Rinella said.

The council, with Rinella and commissioners Angelo Hightower, Doug Patton, Jim Webb and John Goss, voted 5-0 to approve Plumer's retirement and for the Fire and Police Merit Board to make promotions and to fill the vacant firefighter position.

In other personnel matters, the council approved the following:

• Incremental pay increases for Treasurer's Office account technician Rianne Robeson, starting six months from her hire date to her two-year anniversary, until she earns the same rate as a current account technician.

• The resignation of Ray Cagle as sports and recreation coordinator at The HUB Recreation Center. Cagle took over the position on an interim basis in July and was approved for the position full-time in October. HUB General Manager Chris Georgantas said Cagle had an opportunity to take his full retirement earlier than expected, but that Cagle would remain as a part-time basketball instructor.

• New HUB employees Moses Maze, Alexander Baker, Joshua Lindner, Julianne Chairez, Susan Chartrau and Adacmara Soarez Delgado at $9 an hour and Martin Jennings as a personal trainer for $30 an hour, group exercise and basketball instructor at $15 an hour and swim coach at $20 an hour.

• The resignation of Steven Evett as a full-time kitchen worker at the Senior Citizens Center, effective Feb. 26.