Costs rise in Augusta Fire Chief search

Augusta’s ongoing search for a new fire chief has already cost taxpayers $14,000 – and the debacle is far from over.  Last month Antonio Burden was named the sole finalist for the open position, but questions arose when it came out that he did not meet the city’s search requirements while other candidates did.  City officials refused to release search records until ordered to do so by Superior Court Judge Jesse Stone, and now two Augusta commissioners have admitted the process was flawed and needs to be restarted.  A messy and now costly process that looks to continue into the summer has Augusta officials and taxpayers SINKING…