Palmer Fire Commissioner Calls it Quits

Delmar Grube, Palmer Township's fire commissioner, has announced his retirement.

Township Manager Christopher Christman announced Grube's resignation during his report at Monday night's Board of Supervisors meeting.

Grube wrote a letter to township officials in which he stated that he would give up his position on Jan. 3, 2014.

Grube has spent 37 years with Palmer Township's fire department, 27 years as a volunteer and the past 10 as commissioner, Christman said.

"He's a unique individual and will be sorely missed," Christman stated.

Grube, who also serves as the township's emergency management coordinator, did not attend the meeting.

The board approved a motion to hire the Davidson Group to assist in a search for a new fire commissioner. The cost of the search will not exceed $10,000, Christman stated.

The agency has helped with the hirings of Christman and Police Chief Larry Palmer.

"Delmar gives us a year," Supervisors Chairman Dave Colver said. "That buys us a lot of time to go through the process, get the right candidate on board and have the person work for a month or so before Delmar leaves."

Following the meeting, Colver expressed how much Grube has meant to the township.

"He's one of those guys who puts his heart and soul and so much time and effort into the job," said Colver, the supervisors' liaison to the fire department for 15 years.

"If there was a problem or a disastrous situation, then he's the guy I want to be behind," Colver continued. "He's very authoritative in an emergency scene. We're sad to see him go. He's been doing this a long time. The board wishes him well."