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Branford fire board unanimously offers firefighter/paramedic and two EMT positions; chiefs report busy operations
Summary
At a May 26 special meeting, the Branford Board of Fire Commissioners unanimously approved an offer for a Firefighter/Paramedic and offers for two EMTs, and heard updates on call volume, staffing, Station 9 exhaust work, a software upgrade, and a high-school internship program.
The Branford Board of Fire Commissioners unanimously approved hiring actions and received operational updates at a May 26, 2026 special meeting at Fire Headquarters.
Commissioner Fox moved to extend an offer for the firefighter/paramedic position to candidate Clayton Jerzyk; Commissioner LaCroix seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. The board also voted, on a motion by Commissioner Fox and seconded by Commissioner LaCroix, to extend EMT/EMS position offers to Dean Pogozelski and Dan Petroccio; that motion likewise passed unanimously. The minutes record attendance by Chairman Robert Massey, Jr., and Commissioners Riccio, LaCroix, Conklin and Fox for those votes.
Chief Mahoney reported the department is "extremely busy," and the meeting minutes record a figure described as "average 1920 + calls a day." The minutes also state the department has hired six part-time EMTs and added two part-time mechanics to supplement a current firefighter who performs mechanic duties as extra work outside his normal assignment. The minutes do not provide supporting data or a breakdown for the 1920 figure; that number is reported here as it appears in the minutes and is not independently verified.
Assistant Chief Brian Koczak told the commissioners that Station 9's vehicle exhaust system has been installed but needs an elbow extension upward to reduce outside noise before the related grant can be closed out. He said staff are working on a new fire engineering software system, that details for staffing the Branford Festival and fireworks special detail are set, and that an internship program with Branford High School is going well.
No votes were recorded as taken during the executive session the board held to interview candidates; the minutes state the board entered executive session at 5:05 p.m. and returned to the regular meeting at 5:13 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 5:38 p.m. after a motion by Commissioner Riccio, seconded by Commissioner Fox, which passed unanimously.
The minutes list a grant tied to Station 9's exhaust installation but do not specify the grant amount or source. The minutes were signed by Trista Milici, clerk.
