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Candia fire chief Ding Yang announces Dec. 31 retirement after 15 years
Summary
Fire Chief Ding Yang told the selectboard he will step down Dec. 31 after roughly 15 years leading the department, urged promoting from within and recommended accepting applications or recommendations from department members as the board considers selecting a successor.
Fire Chief Ding Yang told the Candia selectboard on Oct. 27 that he plans to step down effective Dec. 31 after about 15 years leading the department.
"I'm gonna step down," Ding Yang said, adding that he had already told department members and would like the town to consider promoting from within. He urged the board to solicit resumes or recommendations from members and to review the warrant language that changed how the chief is appointed.
Board members discussed the procedure that voters approved years earlier and said they would review the warrant article language to confirm whether the board must appoint the chief or whether membership recommendations should formally guide the selection. Ding Yang said his preference was for continuity: if the new chief wanted him to remain in a supporting role, he would help the transition and stay on as a regular member.
Ding Yang praised longtime staff and volunteers, naming several senior members and mechanics he said kept apparatus and operations running. He told the board he would be available to assist the next chief during a transition period.
Next steps: the board agreed to review the warrant article language and to set a process for accepting applications and recommendations so it can select a successor before the Dec. 31 effective date.
