Thirty-four-year department veteran Robert Novatnack was nominated as fire chief by Mayor Bob Donchez Jan. 13. City council's vote whether to confirm him was scheduled for last evening's meeting.

Novatnack has long been assistant chief and replaces the mayor's first nominee, Jacqueline Lilley-McCammon, who decided to retire rather than take the position.

Novatnack is a lifelong city resident.

He is a graduate of Freedom HS, Lehigh County Community College and Alvernia College with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration. He joined the department in 1979 and worked up through the ranks until he became deputy fire chief in 2006.

He served as HAZ-MAT training captain and emergency management coordinator. He has overseen numerous training programs for firefighters, instituted policy changes for public safety and on-site fire scene management, and instituted the smoke detector program, which has supplied more than 1,200 devices to families in need in the city over the past five years.

He also coordinated emergency management during Hurricane Sandy.

An official ceremony for promotions, including new Police Chief Mark DiLuzio, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 30 at City Hall.