Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Search for fire chief underway

Date: 3/27/2012

March 26, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW — The search for East Longmeadow's next fire chief has officially begun, according to Board of Selectmen Chair James Driscoll.

"We have posted the position internally and have received interest from several qualified candidates," Driscoll told Reminder Publications, adding that the names of those candidates remain confidential at this point.

Current Chief Richard Brady, who became chief in 2008, will retire in July, in accordance with Massachusetts General Law, which requires fire chiefs to retire at age 65.

With applications in hand, the town has asked the Public Safety Commission to help evaluate the candidates and make recommendations to the Board of Selectmen based on state fire chief's evaluation standards.

"The Public Safety Commission is made up of volunteers typically made up of people with experience in public safety, including leadership and management," Driscoll said.

The Board of Selectmen has yet to call upon Brady to offer insights on the search, but Driscoll said his involvement in the process is a possibility.

"He has not volunteered or yet been asked, but I'm sure are some point we will be calling on his expertise and I'm sure he will volunteer," Driscoll said.

Brady's retirement has been the subject of several discussions prior to the position being posted, including a public hearing on April 20, 2011, during which Driscoll unveiled a proposal for consolidating the fire chief and police chief positions into one commissioner of public safety.

The move would have made Police Chief Douglas Mellis a public safety commissioner and placed him in charge of all administrative duties for both departments.

However, current and former East Longmeadow Fire Department personnel, as well as Longmeadow Fire Chief and East Longmeadow resident Eric Madison heavily criticized the measure and the Selectmen elected to take no action on the warrant article regarding the position at the May 13, 2011 Annual Town Meeting.

***


The Board of Selectmen also awarded Robert Bolduc, owner of Pride Stations and Stores, a retail package store license to sell beer and malt beverages at his newly acquired gas station on the rotary at 13 North Main St.

Driscoll explained that while there previously had been an existing license for that location, due to a technicality, Bolduc had to apply for a new license.

He added that Bolduc's standing as a businessman in East Longmeadow and throughout Western Massachusetts gave the board confidence in issuing the license.

"There have been no complaints about the service or business conducted at his business' locations in East Longmeadow," Driscoll said. "Mr. Bolduc has an excellent reputation as a businessman and neighbor in this community."



Bookmark and Share