FTVLive told you that longtime WFSB (Hartford) Chief Meteorologist Bruce DePrest had signed off from the station last year.

It appears that 6 months later, WFSB finally got around to naming his replacement, and they didn’t go far to find him.

Mark Dixon is getting bumped up to the Cheif Met after working a dozen years at the Gray station.

“I’m so excited to officially take on the roll,” said Dixon. “There are certainly big shoes to fill in Bruce’s absence, as he enjoys retirement. Glad to have worked with, and learned from, one of the best.”

Here’s what I don’t like.

It took nearly 6 months to bump up a guy that was already on staff. To me, it makes it look like the station looked all over for a Chief Met, could find anyone that they really liked or could afford, and decided to “settle” on the guy that was already at the station.

I’m not saying that’s what happened, but when you take so long to fill a job and then fill it with someone already on the staff, it doesn’t look good.

Of course, the other reason for delaying the hire for months, WFSB was saving money on a Chief Met’s salary and Dixon was basically doing the job at his old pay. Wait half a year then promote him, and you saved 6 months on giving him a raise.

Either way, the optics are not good.

But hey, that’s just me.