The Town of Charlton Board of Selectmen voted Dec. 10 to promote Captain Kevin Barton to fire chief after interviewing three internal finalists.

The appointment followed a round of interviews during which each candidate answered a standardized set of questions read by Town Administrator Andrew Golos. The candidates who appeared were Captain Kevin Barton, Captain Dennis Carlson and Deputy Chief Scott Corio. After deliberations, the board voted to approve the promotion by a 3–2 margin.

The candidates described leadership experience, priorities for recruitment and retention, and plans for the department’s first 90 days. Barton emphasized community involvement and continuity with existing programs, telling the board he was “very grateful for this opportunity” and that he looked forward to “continuing what [the outgoing chief has] created for us.” (Kevin Barton, Captain)

Board members said the pool of applicants was strong and that their decision considered written materials, interview performance and department needs. One board member described the choice as difficult, noting “three outstanding candidates.” Several board members said they weighed EMS experience heavily because of Charlton’s distance from tertiary care and the town’s call profile.

The board’s motion to promote Barton was made and seconded during the meeting. The meeting record does not show the individual names of the motion’s mover and seconder. The transcript shows a roll call of support in which three members voted in favor and two opposed. The meeting did not state an effective date for the promotion.

Charlton officials also used the Dec. 10 meeting to discuss routine municipal business and other agenda items. The town administrator coordinated the interview questions and acted as meeting facilitator during the candidate presentations.

The new chief said he welcomes collaboration with the department’s deputy chief and other municipal leaders as the department transitions to new leadership.