MIDDLEBURY — Two candidates had submitted résumés to become Middlebury’s next fire chief as the Addison Independent went to press on Friday, Dec. 5, which was the application deadline for the position.
Middlebury Town Manager Kathleen Ramsay on Friday morning said she could not yet divulge the names of the applicants, but confirmed one is a current member of the fire department while the other is a former member.
The town’s Public Safety Committee was also slated to meet on Friday to review selection criteria and the process going forward to select the next chief, who will succeed Rick Cole. A 39-year veteran of the department, Cole is retiring after 12 years as chief.
On Wednesday, Dec. 10, Ramsay is scheduled to meet with the fire department to discuss the chief selection process. The selection committee will then review the fire chief candidates on Dec. 11 and 12, according to a timeline mapped out by Ramsay.
Depending on the final number of applicants and the outcome of the first round of interviews, a recommendation could be made to the selectboard to consider at its Tuesday, Dec. 16, meeting. On the other hand, town officials could schedule some additional interviews and defer a finalist recommendation until Jan. 13, according to Ramsay.
The fire chief’s duties include overseeing the volunteer department of around 40 members; directing and coordinating firefighter efforts at fires and other emergencies; preparing the department’s annual budget; and monitoring the force’s equipment needs.
The chief is paid a stipend for his or her command duties.
Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].