Phil Eagleson, Owen Sound's new fire chief. (supplied photo)
Owen Sound has a new fire chief.
City council approved a recommendation at its meeting Monday night to direct staff to bring forward a by-law to appoint Phil Eagleson as the city’s fire chief, effective Nov. 22.
Eagleson has served as Saugeen Shores’ Fire Chief and Director of Protective Services since 2008. He has spent the last 22 years of his career working in fire protection services, starting as a volunteer firefighter in Saugeen Shores in 1999.
“I am honoured to take on the leadership role of Fire Chief for the Owen Sound Fire & Emergency Services. I am looking forward to working alongside the team of fire service professionals to help keep the community safe,” Eagleson says in a prepared statement.
Mayor Ian Boddy: “On behalf of Members of Council, I would like to welcome Chief Eagleson to Owen Sound. We are committed to fostering and building a safe community that supports the health and well-being of all residents. I am confident that with his leadership, we will continue to deliver high-quality fire protection and emergency response services to our community.”
Will Plagenz has served as Owen Sound’s interim fire chief following the retirement of Doug Barfoot, who announced he was moving on in July. Barfoot spent more than 41 years as a local firefighter, and served as the city’s fire chief from 2015-2021.
A report by Owen Sound’s Human Resources Manager Melissa Clancy says no costs were associated with the recruitment process and undertaking it in-house realized a “cost avoidance of $20,000-$40,000 as the alternative would have been to hire a professional recruitment service.”