AUSTINTOWN — The township hall was filled to capacity Monday evening, with many in attendance representing the fire department.

The hall erupted with applause when Assistant fire Chief Dave Schertzer was promoted to fire chief, filling the position vacated July 24 by the retirement of Chief Andy Frost III. In his first statement as chief, Schertzer praised his staff.

“They are the fire department. I’m nothing without them,” he said. “And that’s why I am here, to help them achieve what they want to do. And I know they have one goal and that’s to take care of everybody in Austintown, and they do a really good job of it.”

Though born in Greenville, Pa., Schertzer said Austintown is the only home he’s ever known.

He graduated from Austintown Fitch High School in 1991 and started as a part-time firefighter the following year, the same year Andy Frost joined the department as a full timer.

He earned an associate’s degree in computer information systems from Youngstown State University in 1992 and has pursued fire and paramedic training and education on a yearly basis since then.

Schertzer served for eight years as a part-timer, working a stint as assistant manager at Bindas Sparkle in Austintown until 1994, and as a production supervisor at New Breed Lightning Racers / New Breed Fabrication in Struthers until his promotion to full-time firefighter and EMT in 2000.

In 2016, he was promoted to lieutenant, and a year later to captain. Scherzter was promoted to assistant fire chief in 2019.

He also has served as both president and vice president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 3356.

Many officials lauded Schertzer’s career and dedication, including Zoning Inspector Darren Crivelli.

“First of all, he’s just a quality person, and totally qualified, you were not going to find anyone better,” he told trustees.

Crivelli said Schertzer’s 32-year career and promotion through the ranks also sends a message.

“We want people to come here, and we want them to stay here,” he said. “So I think it sends a message that if you come to Austintown, and you put in the time, and you work hard, then there is room for promotion.”

One of Schertzer’s first acts as chief was to request trustees’ approval to rehire Frost as a part-time firefighter.

“I don’t think he’s entirely ready to pack it all in yet, he wants to come be a firefighter and be around the guys,” he said. “The fact that he wants to do that, and keep his certifications up, and take calls from home, we’re grateful to have him.”

Trustees approved the motion.

Frost will rejoin the department at base part-time salary, with no benefits and no seniority, and will be on call just like other part-timers. Schertzer said it helps the department to maintain its ranks and be prepared for big fires.

He said large-scale events require the department to get 15 people onto the scene within 12 minutes, and Austintown often only staffs six full-time firefighters.

“We depend a lot on our part-timers,” he said.

Schertzer said he is fortunate that he doesn’t have to say much about his plans for the department.

Unlike chiefs who come into broken and troubled departments and need to have clear ideas about their plans to fix the situation, he said he intends to press on with the standard set by Frost and Frost’s father before him.

“So many changes have already happened since COVID, and so I have no preconceived plans to change anything else right now,” he said. “I’m just looking to keep stability in the department and provide the residents of Austintown with the same level of service they expect.”

Schertzer said that within the next month, he expects to make announcements about who will be moving up to take his old job as assistant chief, and in succession from there, a lieutenant and new full-time firefighter.

Schertzer and his wife, Sheila, have a son and daughter.

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