Batavia names new fire chief

A fire leader with 23 years experience in the Kodak Fire Department of the Eastman Kodak Company and 30 years experience -- both as a volunteer and as chief of the North Greece Fire Department -- has been selected to head the Batavia Fire Department.

James Maxwell will be become Fire Chief next Monday.

Monday night the Batavia City Council approved a resolution giving Maxwell 12 months to relocate to Batavia and City Manager Jason Molino said Maxwell is eager to move here.

Maxwell was not available for comment.

He replaces Interim Chief Craig Williams, whom Molino praised for his three months of dedicated service in the role.

It's been a long search for a new chief for the department, which has been run in the past couple of years by Thomas Dillon followed by Ralph Hyde before Williams. Hyde came out of retirement to handle the duties when Dillon was forced to step down because the state wouldn't let him draw a full-time salary and retirement benefits.

At Kodak, Maxwell served as a HazMat Resource Tech, Senior Firefighter/EMT, Lieutenant and Battalion Chief. He became chief of the North Greece department in 2006. North Greece is staffed by 33 career firefighters and 68 volunteers.

In looking for a new chief, Molino said the city wanted to hire somebody of character, integrity and enthusiasm.

"Obviously, we are looking for a good personality and right mentality not only for the department itself and management and (city) council, but who’s going to be a good fit for the community," Molino said. "Resumes are important, but it doesn’t always mean that somebody with the best resume is going to be the best fit in that department or the organization."

Maxwell's wife is Mary Jo and he has two sons, Brian, 26, and Craig, 24.

His starting salary will be $75,170.