Select Board to name new fire chief next week

The Canton Select Board plans to choose the town’s next fire chief at its upcoming meeting on September 20 after completing interviews with the two finalists for the position earlier this week.

The position is being vacated by Charles Doody, who will soon step into his new role as town administrator in place of retiring Town Administrator Charlie Aspinwall.

Canton Fire Lt. Jamie Meier and Fire Captain Wendell Robery are the two finalists for the position.

Select Board Chair John Connolly said the search committee initially selected four candidates, all within the CFD, but narrowed the list down to Meier and Robery. Connolly said all four candidates were excellent and narrowing it down to two finalists was a difficult process. He did not name the two other applicants.

Meier joined the CFD in 2002 and became EMS coordinator in 2010. He has served as a lieutenant for five years and has also served as firefighter union president and union negotiator.

He has worked with the Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse and with the Mass. Firefighter Academy on recruitment training. He holds a bachelor’s degree in fire science and has also attended classes at the National Firefighters Academy.

Meier said he is interested in implementing a community risk reduction program with activities such as getting out to the elderly and offering tips on cooking and unattended fires.

Robery has served the CFD for 34 years, including the past 27 as a lieutenant and captain, and has another four years before he is required to retire.

He believes the department is in “great shape” and he will work to continue the programs built up by Doody, especially apparatus and equipment. Robery said he would set goals for each firefighter-paramedic and, as a leader, inspire them to do things they never thought they could accomplish.

He is a big proponent of leading by example and stepping up to do extra work when needed. Robery cited his efforts to set up a new fire alarm radio system.

The other major agenda item, which took up the bulk of the three-plus-hour board meeting, concerned the Canton Community Preservation Committee’s recent vote to take a “pause” and not accept new applications for funding at the May 2023 town meeting.

A major factor in the decision was the fact that the CCPC has had challenges in attracting and hiring a new CCPC administrator. In addition to the work needed to bring a new administrator up to speed, Select Board Vice Chair Lisa Lopez, who is a member of the CCPC, said the person selected must also help the committee with 25 open projects. Select Board member Mike Loughran, however,  said that according to Town Counsel Paul DeRensis, a vote not to accept new applications is not legally permissible.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Select Board voted 5-0 …

See this week’s Canton Citizen to read the full version of this story. Special fall promo for new subscribers: Click here to order your subscription today (also available in digital form).

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=91437

Posted by Mike Berger on Sep 15 2022. Filed under Uncategorized. Both comments and pings are currently closed.