AUBURN - The Auburn City Council will once again discuss whether a fourth assistant fire chief should be hired.

Councilors are expected to debate the issue in the next several weeks. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Curry retired in January, leaving his position vacant.

Last week, City Manager John Salomone told councilors it would cost the city $95,000 to $100,000 in overtime over the next year if the position isn't filled. So far this year, the city has spent about $8,500 in overtime to ensure adequate coverage of assistant fire chiefs. Salomone recommends filling the position.

Salomone provided the analysis at the request of Mayor Tim Lattimore.

In 2002, another vacancy occurred with the retirement of Assistant Fire Chief Bob Tessoni. Councilors argued then the city could freeze or eliminate the position to save money.

As he did two years ago, Fire Chief Mike Quill contends his 70-person department is required to have a full-fledged assistant fire chief to spearhead each of its 14-person shifts.

For the most part, the other three assistant fire chiefs have been filling in since Curry retired. Sometimes, however, the department's captains have taken on that responsibility. In those cases, they are paid $2-per-hour extra, Salomone said.

The assistant fire chief position has a starting annual salary of $51,944.

The position would probably be filled within the department's ranks, which would cause another fire department vacancy within the organization, Salomone said. "We would fill the vacancy with a cascade approach," he said.

Councilors may decide the fate of the assistant fire chief position during budget deliberations this spring.

Councilor Bill Jacobs, the council's lone Republican and a city firefighter for 26 years, has argued to fill it.

Staff writer Craig Fox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or craig.fox@lee.net