Hooksett appoints Assistant Chief David Nadeau as acting fire chief while recruitment continues

Hooksett — The Hooksett Town Council approved a motion July 9 to appoint Assistant Fire Chief David Nadeau as acting fire chief effective July 10, while the town completes its hiring process for a permanent fire chief.

Town Administrator Andre Garen told the council the hiring process had taken longer than expected and that scheduling around vacations and an outside consultant’s availability required extending internal coverage. Garen recommended appointing the assistant chief as acting chief to preserve operational continuity while the council interviews two internal applicants and makes a final hiring decision.

Councilors asked for clarification about why the assistant chief was not automatically promoted; Garen said the town is following its usual hiring protocol of interviewing internal applicants before opening the position externally. He noted a prior analogous interim appointment for the public works director and said the interim role previously carried a 3.5% pay increase; he recommended a comparable temporary adjustment for the acting fire chief.

Councilor Walzick moved to appoint Assistant Fire Chief David Nadeau as acting fire chief effective July 10; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The appointment will remain in place until the council fills the permanent chief position.