ATHOL — The town is one step closer to filling a five-member search committee to select a new fire chief following the appointment of Barbara Savoy.
John Duguay is retiring after more than 30 years on the department, with the past three years as chief. His final day in the office is slated to be Sept. 1.
Savoy, who was appointed earlier this week, is the Selectboard’s citizen-at-large designee. She joins Selectboard member Rebecca Bialecki, appointed by her board, and department head designee Cathy Savoy, appointed by Town Manager Shaun Suhoski.
The committee is charged with vetting and submitting three ranked candidates to the Suhoski for consideration of appointment.
The remaining seats include a representative from the Finance & Warrant Advisory Committee, appointed by the FWAC Chairman, and a sitting or retired fire chief, to be appointed by the town manager.
Suhoski told the Selectmen he has had an initial discussion with a sitting central Massachusetts fire chief regarding the process, and he expects to advise the selectmen of the final membership within the next week.
The fire chief/emergency management director position, with a starting salary in the $100,000 range plus a benefits package, is appointed by the town manager. The fire chief is responsible for managing all administrative and operations aspects of the town’s full-service fire and ambulance department. Candidates must have a minimum of 15 years experience at a fire department and five years experience in a firefighting command capacity, as well as be EMT-basic certified.
Candidates must live within a 15-mile radius of the town’s boundaries and hold an associate’s degree in fire science, business management or a related field.
The deadline for applications is Tuesday by 1 p.m.