Municipality of Princeton hires new emergency management director
Michael Yeh has been named to serve as the new director of emergency and safety services for the town of Princeton.
The director of emergency and safety services is the municipality’s emergency management coordinator and oversees the fire prevention, housing
inspection offices, and the fire department. The director also serves as the liaison to the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad. Princeton Police Chief Nick Sutter has been serving as the emergency management coordinator in addition to his regular duties ever since former emergency management director Bob Gregory died suddenly in late January.
Yeh has been the commander of emergency management and special operations at Rider University in Lawrence since 2013. Previously he was a police officer in Lawrence for two decades. He is a certified emergency manager, fire official, fire inspector, firefighter, hazardous material technician, and emergency medical technician.
“Michael’s experience and expertise in emergency services will be critical as we continue to manage our current public health emergency,” said Princeton Municipal Administrator Marc Dashield in a written statement about the hire.
Yeh will be paid a salary of $110,000 a year. He will begin his new position in Aug. 24.
Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert said Yeh brings with him deep expertise in all aspects of the delivery of emergency services. “I am confident that our community will benefit from his breadth of knowledge and insight.”
In mid-March, the municipality also hired retired police officer Fred Williams back to serve as the public and press relations manager for the town at a salary of $85,000 per year. At the time, Lempert said Williams would also serve as the town’s deputy emergency management coordinator.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.
Those are high starting salaries for those positions. I’m glad to see that the town is watching its expenses. The public relations position is especially high given the number of qualified people who do similar work for lower salaries.
Side note: Why is Marc Dashield still employed by the town of Princeton? After that toxic-waste- dumping debacle you’d think he’d have been toast. Seems like that episode slipped from the spotlight after a few hapless patsies were sacrificed.
Such a high salary