Mendon council appoints Barry Locke as city fire chief

A short Mendon City Council meeting that began at 6:00 a.m. resulted in the appointment of Barry Locke as the city’s new fire chief.

Unidentified Speaker, who led the hiring process presentation, told the council the city posted job qualifications and received six applicants. “We posted qualifications, made a posting for the job, and we got 6 to apply,” the speaker said, adding that a hiring committee made up of the speaker, council member Bob Jepsen and City Clerk Holly Gordon interviewed candidates and scored them according to state guidance.

The speaker said the committee reached a unanimous selection and that the chosen candidate accepted the offer. A councilmember moved to approve the appointment; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The transcript records verbal assent (“Aye”) and notes that Bridal Myers was absent; it indicates four members voted in favor but does not record individual roll-call votes or list who moved and seconded the motion.

The speaker said they have held transition meetings with Chief Logue and that Chief Olsen is involved in transferring information to the new chief. A public induction and reception for the new chief is scheduled for Sept. 3 at 7:00 p.m.; councilmembers were asked to attend and to dress appropriately.

With the appointment complete and no further business, the presiding speaker moved to adjourn and the council voted to end the meeting. The speaker apologized for not having this information available at the prior regular council meeting.