Select Board wants candidates for Grafton’s first full-time fire chief by June 1
Grafton is finally getting down to the business of finding a new fire chief.
With Fire Chief Mickey Gauthier nearing retirement age, the town, under the recommendation of a fire department study, is hiring its very first full-time fire chief. Gauthier, who serves part-time running the entirely on-call fire department, believes the town will attract better candidates by allowing a strong chief.
The Select Board on Tuesday agreed to solicit companies for the fire chief search, similar to the process used to hire new Town Administrator Evan Brassard.
They also agreed to seek hiring committee members, which would consist of:
- Police Chief Normand Crepeau
- Town Administrator Even Brassard
- A member from each of the town’s three fire stations
- One member at-large
The board set a deadline of June 1 for the committee to come up with no more than four finalists.
Gauthier has served for more than 47 years as a Grafton firefighter and has served as the town’s fire chief for more than 18 years. Issues over the hiring of his successor led to him requesting early retirement back in July, which he ultimately retracted.
Search committee to have 3 no more than 4 possible candidates to the chief by June1st. New Chief to be in place in the new fiscal year on July 1st. Once again this board has allowed Peter Carlson to insult Micky without a discussion. Chief Gauthier told the board point blank one week earlier that he would meet with the new Town Administrator and give them a date that he would retire. He set up that meeting with the new TA and before he could meet with him Peter makes the date of July 1st of having the new Chief in place! So Mick will be done on June 30th and even if you get a qualified candidate in June, and hold 3 or 4 interviews, and the top candidate agrees to the compensation offer, he will most likely give fair notice to his department and we will be without a Chief officer until maybe August! By accepting Peters date and forcing Micky out on June 30th, the board has also tied the new TA’s hands to hear Mick’s timeframe. By telling Mick the board assumed you will retire by June 30th! Again insulting the Chief!