The city of Niagara Falls has a new fire chief.

Veteran firefighter and union member Joseph Pedulla was sworn in Tuesday.

He replaces former Chief Thomas Colangelo, who resigned last month after holding the position for seven years.

Pedulla said he has plans for the department but the first part of his plan involves no action at all.

"I do have ideas of things over the years that I see that I would like to see done differently,” he said. “But I think it's important, starting today, for the next few weeks, I gotta get a baseline of where we're at with the department with all of our issues. I've always looked at it from a union side, and from a firefighter's side. Now I have to look at it from a management side."

Former chief Colangelo will remain in the fire department, returning to his original platoon.

The self-imposed demotion may actually work to Colangelo's advantage, since he'll be eligible for overtime pay and other benefits that he couldn't accept as chief.