Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Groveland approves interim fire chief job posting; deputies decline interim appointment
Summary
After the fire chief notified the town he could not fulfill duties, the select board approved an interim fire chief job description and a board statement. Deputies Rich York and Daniel Briscoe said they could not serve as interim due to work and school obligations but offered ongoing departmental support and help with interviews.
The select board approved an interim fire chief job description and an accompanying statement authorizing the board to pursue an interim appointment after receiving notice on July 20 that the current chief could not fulfill duties.
Deputy Rich York told the board he previously served in an interim chief role for about 14 months but cannot take the position now because work commitments have changed: "I did this approximately 7 years ago, and it did last for me about 14 months... but at this point, I do not have the time to fulfill the obligations due to my work." Daniel Briscoe, the other deputy, said he is finishing coursework and also cannot take an interim appointment at this time.
Both deputies committed to continue supporting the department and offered to participate in candidate interviews. Board members discussed the initial term length for an interim appointment, the duties and reporting relationships and how payroll or day‑to‑day administrative tasks would be handled. The job description provides for an initial three‑month term with authority to extend if needed; the board approved the draft job description and the select board statement authorizing interim recruitment unanimously.
Why it matters: The town must fill an interim leadership role while recruiting a permanent chief; deputies' inability to serve creates a need for an external interim or reallocation of administrative duties and for clarity on funding the interim appointment.
