Council appoints Cole Tennant as Beacon firefighter; department honors six for rescues

The Beacon City Council voted to appoint Cole Tennant as a career firefighter, advancing the department’s recruitment work and filling a local vacancy. The fire chief introduced Tennant, citing his 2024 internship with the department and coursework in fire science at the University of New Haven, and recommended his appointment under Resolution 51.

“I’m very confident that Cole will be a very valuable addition to the fire department, and I respectfully recommend his appointment as a career firefighter,” the fire chief said during the introduction. The council moved and approved the resolution by voice vote; Tennant then took the oath of office.

The council also recognized six members of the Beacon Fire Department for two separate rescue incidents. Staff were honored for a technical rescue at Beacon High School on 04/28/2026 — freeing a student whose finger had become lodged in a pool — and for an off-duty river rescue on 05/05/2026. Certificates were presented to Assistant Chief Leahy, Lt. Mark Romanelli, Firefighter Smith, Firefighter Wasaki (not present), Firefighter Burke, and Lieutenant Robert Simmons Jr., whose intervention helped a capsized kayaker near Long Dock Park.

The recognitions and the appointment were placed early on the agenda by an approved motion to accommodate first responders and public attendance. The city will include the new hire in departmental staffing and payroll; no effective-date contingency beyond the standard onboarding was stated.