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Offer to fire chief finalist withdrawn Page I of2 HI'("aUSI' fh... 'U'II'S. H.'r-,'r ,\'!fifi~' Offer to fire chief finalist withdrawn Gasaway's counteroffer called unreasonable Posted: 9/16/05 by John Gessner Thisweek Newspapers The lone finalist for Burnsville fire chief has rejected the city's offer, which the city then withdrew. Richard B. Gasaway, the fire chief in Roseville, received the offer Sept. 7 and returned a counteroffer Sept. 9. The differences were too vast to bridge through negotiations, city officials said. Gasaway made "unusual and exorbitant" demands that included a guaranteed three-year contract, said Deputy City Manager Tom Hansen. Even Burnsville's top employee, City Manager Craig Ebeling, has only a one-year contract. Gasaway's demands also included a starting salary of $103,000, the top ofthejob's pay range, Hansen said. "He had employment expectations that were unrealistic - salary and benefits," Hansen said. The city may start over in its search to replace former Chief Ron Payne, who retired at the end of May. it appears at this point that we may go out and resolicit," Ebeling said. Fortunately for the full-time Fire Department, acting chief Steve Harklerode is "quite comfortable" holding the position until a new chief is hired, Hansen said. Harklerode, who had been assistant chief under Payne, didn't apply for the top job, nor did any other department membe~s. ~ Gasaway, 44, said he has no hard feelings. ; "I'm disappointed," he's\lld, "but not angry'or bitter. I think that it would have been a &oliderful opportunity for me. But it just didn't work." , , Gasaway has been Roseville's chief since 1999 and was chief of the Springfield Township Fire Department in Akron, Ohio, from 1990 to 1999. He was the only finalist among 10 applicants for the Burnsville job. Three of the 10 were interviewed last month by separate panels of department members, community and city representatives and City Council members. Gasaway was the clear choice of all three groups. He returned for meetings with Ebeling and Hansen, senior department members and local firefighters union members. "What a wonderful group of people, and] mean that from the city manager on down," Gasaway said. "] have no hard feelings or issues with any ofthem. ] think it's a wonderfully run city with some wonderful opportunities." John Gessner is at burnsville.thisweek@ecm-inc.~om. Top of Page ~heck out this week's newspaper for more about your community. Thisweek Newspapers mhtml:http://www.rosevillecityhall.com/rosevillefirefighters.com/web%20files/09 .16.05%20Thisweek,... 10/24/2005