The Charlton Board of Selectmen voted on Dec. 10, 2024, to promote Captain Barton to fire chief after interviewing three internal candidates for the vacancy.

The promotion followed hearings in which each candidate described leadership experience, recruitment and retention strategies, community-engagement plans and their emergency medical services background. Deputy Chief Scott Corio, Captain Dennis Carlson and Captain Barton each responded to a set of questions prepared by the board. Deputy Chief Scott Corio described his 32 years in the fire service and recent accreditation work; Captain Dennis Carlson outlined his role leading the department’s Community Risk Reduction division; Captain Barton told the board he was grateful for the opportunity and pledged to continue the department’s recent progress.

Selectmen said EMS capability and experience with high-acuity calls weighed heavily in their decision. During discussion, several board members praised all three candidates as “outstanding” and said the choice was difficult. One selectman said the deciding factor for them was Captain Barton’s EMS experience and the department’s long response times to definitive care, noting the new substation would also affect coverage decisions.

A motion to promote Captain Barton carried; the board recorded three yes votes and two no votes on the motion to promote (the board announced two opposing votes during the roll call). The board did not publicly name how each member voted during the floor discussion. Selectmen publicly offered postvote support for the new chief and invited the other candidates to meet privately for feedback on their scores and applications.

The board also voted to go into executive session later in the meeting to discuss strategy related to the fire chief contract under the cited open-meeting statute, with a roll call recorded for that motion.

Captain Barton thanked the board and said he looked forward to working with Deputy Chief Corio and building on the department’s recent progress.

The board’s selection closes this appointment process; the new chief’s employment terms and the contract will be addressed in executive session and any formal contract action will be reported at a subsequent open meeting.