Ending the Jericho Fire Department's state of leadership limbo, Michael Milner resigned from his chief post on February 3, ending what had become a controversial and lame duck term.

Replacing Milner is Chief Richard Schiraldi, a 21-year veteran of the department who served as chief from 1987-89. It will be his responsibility to lift the department out of the doldrums that hard feelings have engendered. "It's going to be a very difficult job," admitted Schiraldi, who was recently sworn in. "What I want to do is unite the department and keep it together as a working team. And, through leadership and trying to set the proper example, hopefully the membership will follow."

The dark clouds began ominously forming around the firehouse on January 5, when the Jericho Board of Fire Commissioners announced at a meeting that it would not appoint Milner to chief, following his victorious in-house election on December 4, 1997. Though he earned an illustrious reputation from his work with the New York City Fire Department, several major national rescues and 22 years in the Jericho department, Milner, who served as temporary chief last year after Robert Kaplan was forced to resign, was unanimously turned down by the five-member board for reasons its members still refuse to offer.

Unless he was fired, Milner could have remained as chief until someone new was elected, and for a time it was suggested that Milner could linger within the department as chief indefinitely. Department members, who held several rallies for Milner, refused to nominate anyone new in January, and could have continued to withhold nominations at each subsequent monthly meeting.

But this loophole was moot once Milner, who had once so stalwartly resisted the board's rejection, resigned. Milner could not be reached to explain his change of heart and his departure.

However, First Assistant Chief David Ginzburg offered up an explanation. "I can't say that I blame him. I guess he figured, how long can I go with that? To go month to month like that would not be pointing the department in the right direction."

"He finally did the right thing, and realized there was no sense in dragging this out," said Schiraldi.

But Milner also might have realized his duration as chief was running short anyway. Hours before he resigned on February 3, the fire department held its second election for chief. Though nobody offered a nomination to the board, department members were able to write in a candidate on the day of the election.

Just less than half of the department refused to vote, in protest. The other half however, secured by the anonymity of a private voting booth, decided it was necessary to move on.

"Given the circumstances and emotion involved back in January, people weren't so quick to offer a nomination, but a month later, people were realizing we needed a chief, and the board wasn't going to waver in its decision on Michael," said Ginzburg.

The refusal to induct Milner as chief was unprecedented in the history of the department, though within the rules. Almost as rare was the tie that resulted from the write-in election. It took a run-off - and the board's approval - to determine that Schiraldi would become the next chief.

Not nearly as uncommon in the department's history however, is the uneasiness and tension between the volunteers who ensure the safety of the community, and the board that oversees their operation.

"Even before this happened there's been friction between the membership and the board. The problems that we've come to today have not been the result of just recent events. It's something that has developed over the years," stated Ginzburg. "Now I think we're on the upswing and we have to work on repairing the damage, and getting together, and I think that's happening...This was a black time in our history that hopefully won't be repeated. But it looks like we are making the turn-around."

Ginzburg noted that the past conflicts he was alluding to did not necessarily involve current fire department members or the current five board members.

Schiraldi, with prior experience as chief, is confident in his relationship with the board members. "I know all the board members well, and I feel that I can work very well with this board, so I'm not anticipating any problem," said the chief.

The Board of Commissioners did not wish to make comments regarding either Milner's rejection or resignation.

Schiraldi said that the responsibilities that he has re-acquired since attaining chief status again differ little from10 years before. However, the technology the department uses, such as computers and pagers, has certainly advanced.

What never changes, he said, is the department's purpose, "to preserve the life and property of the people who live and work in the Jericho Fire District, or come through our district."