Amy Brow, current assistant fire chief for the city of Ann Arbor, has been selected to be the new fire chief for Van Buren Township.
At Monday’s work/study session, Brow was introduced to the trustees and the public and at Tuesday’s regular meeting she was hired. She plans to be on the job on April 24. Her salary will be $78,000, to match the police chief’s salary.
Brow, 50, started her fire fighting career as a paid-per-call fire fighter at the Van Buren Township Fire Department. Then, she went on in her 25-year career to get experience and lots of education credentials, including a bachelor and master’s degree, mostly online.
VBT received 10 applications for the fire chief’s position, vacated by Dan Besson at the end of February. That was narrowed down to five and Brow was the unanimous choice of the selection committee.
The selection committee was made up of Supervisor Kevin McNamara, Treasurer Sharry Budd, Clerk Leon Wright, Public Safety Director Greg Laurain, Police Chief Jason Wright, former Fire Chief Besson, and Human Resources Director Nicole Sumpter.
On Monday, Trustee Reggie Miller said there was some concern at first that the trustees were not involved in the selection process, but she is fine with the committee’s selection.
Trustee Sherry Frazier pointed out Brow will be the first woman fire chief in VBT history. Frazier and Brow listed other communities with woman fire chiefs, including Grand Rapids, Woodhaven, Garden City and Ferndale.
“I was here when Amy started,” said Treasurer Sharry Budd. “I’m glad she came back.”
“I didn’t see her as a woman,” said Supervisor McNamara. He said he wants to have a premiere fire department and Amy fit all of the requirements for that “to a T.”
Clerk Wright said he sat on the selection panel and, “All her credential stood out.”
Trustee White questioned Brow about her background and her degrees. She is Blue Card certified, which means she can teach Blue Card Command Training. She said she taught 13 of VBT’s fire fighters the Blue Card training system.
“I believe in a well-equipped and well-staffed fire department,” said Trustee Kevin Martin.
Trustee Miller asked if Brow had taken a grant-writing class and she said she hadn’t but she’s always interested in education. She said others on the department should go with her for the training because you always have to be planning for the future.
“I know the area. I’m not ready to retire,” Brow said.
Trustee Frazier said she realizes Brow received higher pay as an assistant chief in Ann Arbor than she will get at VBT as chief, so it shows that “money is not the driving force.”
When White asked her what she saw as her biggest challenge at VBT, Brow said it would be the same for any fire chief on a paid-on-call department – keeping volunteers coming in and wanting to stay longer. She said there are some on the department who are older and will be leaving and she knows they will have to be replaced.
Brow was the first female in the State of Michigan to earn the Executive Fire Officer certification. She has a MBA in Public Administration and a bachelor of science in biochemistry/toxicology.
In addition, she has several professional certifications and achievements. She has experience in labor management from both sides of negotiations, having served as union president in Ann Arbor. She also has served as a probationary officer, lieutenant, training officer, battalion chief, and assistant fire chief.
Amy Brow