| Published February 4th, 2009 | MOFD Chief Nowicki Retires and Returns | By Andrea A. Firth | | | After more than 23 years with the Moraga-Orinda Fire District (MOFD) Fire Chief Pete Nowicki retired from his position as MOFD's top fireman at the end of January. He had served as the District's Fire Chief for the past two and half years. At the January 29th meeting of the MOFD Board of Directors, Nowicki was immediately rehired as Acting Fire Chief when the Board voted unanimously (4 to 0) to employ him on a contractual basis at a salary of $14,700 a month through June of 2009.
Orinda resident Clyde Vaughn questioned the Board's decision to retain Nowicki as Acting Chief and pay both his pension and new contract salary and asked if the Board had considered promoting one of the Battalion Chiefs as an alternative. Board President Pete Wilson responded that Nowicki had been rehired at a reduced salary that would save the District about $70,000 on an annualized basis. Wilson stated that no formal succession plan for the Fire Chief post has been established, however he indicated that plans for a search for Nowicki's replacement were getting underway.
At this same meeting, the MOFD Board appointed Directors Fred Weil and John Wyro to participate as the Fire Board representatives on a three-party committee that will evaluate the recommendations of Orinda's Revenue Enhancement Tax Force regarding property tax allocation. Back in November, the Task Force identified the MOFD's share of the property tax distribution as a potential source of revenue to be tapped to help fund Orinda's infrastructure needs. In addition to Weil and Wyro, the committee will include Orinda Council Members Steve Glazer and Victoria Smith and Moraga Mayor Dave Trotter and Council Member Mike Metcalf.
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MOFD's Borden
Gets $1,500 Grant
The Moraga-Orinda Fire District recently received a $1,500 fire prevention grant from FM Global for the purchase of equipment to assist with fire investigations. Battalion Chief Ed Borden was awarded the grant based on his application. Borden attended an arson investigation class at the National Fire Academy last Fall and was part of a group activity that investigated a scripted fire scene. A professional-grade digital camera to assist investigating fires had been on Borden's wish list for a while, and the benefit of having a camera for fire investigation was further emphasized by his particpation in the arson investigation class. The camera will assist the MOFD to determine the cause of fires and to investigate fires more efficiently. | | | | | | | | Advertisement | | | | | | | | | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Subscribe / Unsubscribe | | | | | | | | | | | | ![](../../images/Restaurant-listing-logo-300x50.jpg) | | | | | | ![](../../images/Calendar-logo-300x50.jpg) | | | | | | | | |