NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Niagara Falls is searching for a new leadership for its fire and police departments.
Falls Mayor Robert Restaino confirmed to 2 On Your Side that Fire Chief Joe Pedulla and Police Superintendent John Faso are retiring at the end of the year.
"I think that for both of them, it's a little bit bittersweet," Restaino said. "They are very committed to their respective departments but each of them having expressed to me that from a personal perspective, they just thought it was time for them to sort of pass on the baton."
Restaino said that one of the chiefs had informed him recently he was considering retirement, but the Mayor didn't say which one.
Additionally, the city of Niagara Falls announced job postings for 11 other positions besides the Fire and Police chief.
The mayor's office sent out a release Tuesday morning saying that the city "is looking for qualified candidates for the following positions: Director of Parks and Public Works, Corporation Counsel, City Controller, City Clerk, Human Resources Director, Community Development Director, Management Information Systems Director, Planning Director, Deputy Director of Human Resources, Deputy Director of Parks & Public Works, Director of Business Development, Public Information Officer.
2 On Your Side asked Mayor Restaino if there had been mass resignations or firings.
"No, there's not mass resignations," Restaino said.
Restaino just won another term as mayor of the caterac city, and simply said this was offered as an opportunity for any department heads to seek opportunities outside of local government before a new term starts.
"This was a difficult term and a lot of a lot of levels, 21 months of COVID, a little bit of social unrest in the early part," Restaino said. "Then, obviously, the day-to-day rigor of local government."
According to Restaino, any department head who wants to stay on the job can do so.
"Absolutely, we'll talk with them about going forward in the future and hopefully be able to hit the ground running on January 1st," Restaino said.
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