
The Monarch Fire Protection District introduced its new fire chief, Tom Vineyard Thursday night at a regular public meeting of the district's three-member board of directors.
Board President Kim Evans conducted a ceremonial swearing-in at administrative headquarters, 13725 Olive Blvd., since Vineyard's first day of work was Jan. 2.
Top firefighting brass from University City, Pattonville, West County Fire and others watched Vineyard take over his post, leaving after the brief protocol.
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Vineyard takes the job amid controversy with a lawsuit over the firing of four top department personnel in the wake of another lawsuit which cited employment discrimination in the district.
One of the fired battalion chiefs took his own life two weeks after the firing.
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Vineyard replaces Clifford Chip Biele as fire chief, after Biele retired the last day of 2011.
Biele's compensation for sick days accrued over the course of his career will be paid out over the course of 2012.
The board also set a meeting for January 23 to decide on plans for putting a bond vote on the April municipal ballot. The district has a deadline of January 24 to submit ballot language to county election officials.
Monarch FPD covers 62.5 square miles in Chesterfield, Ballwin, Clarkson Valley, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, Wildwood, and unincorporated St. Louis County, and employs 125.
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