Search group picks Davis as next fire chief

Published in the October 17, 2018 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — The search for a new fire chief is coming to an end.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Dick Dalton announced last week the Fire Chief Screening Committee has recommended that Lynnfield Deputy Chief Glenn Davis be appointed as the next leader of the Fire Department. He said five candidates applied for the fire chief position, and the candidates were interviewed over the course of two nights.

“At the conclusion of the interviews, we met to discuss the candidates,” said Dalton. “We had a unanimous vote to recommend only one of the five candidates to the Board of Selectmen for their consideration. The committee recommends that the board appoint Deputy Chief Glenn Davis as the next chief of the Lynnfield Fire Department. We are all convinced that he was by far and away the best candidate. He is someone who is capable of providing the leadership that the department needs.”

Dalton noted the screening committee formed recently in order to find Fire Chief Mark Tetreault’s successor. The selectmen voted not to renew Tetreault’s contract last June.

In addition to Dalton, the search committee consists of Town Administrator Rob Dolan, Finance Committee member Tom Kayola, Police Chief David Breen and former Selectman and Assistant Fire Chief Bob MacKendrick. Fire Lt./EMT Kevin Mutti served as a non-voting union representative on the search committee.

“It was decided that internal candidates would be given the first opportunity,” said Dalton. “We developed 15 questions that each of the candidates were given an opportunity to respond to.”

In an interview with the Villager, Dalton said Davis stood out from the other four candidates who applied for the job.

“With his years of experience as a call firefighter and his private sector experience as an executive, he is positioned to be a successful chief and will be able to move the department forward,” said Dalton.

Dolan agreed.

“It was a unanimous choice by the committee to bring (Davis’) name forward,” said Dolan in an interview with the Villager. “I think Glenn has a unique set of experiences that include 20 plus years as a leader in the Lynnfield Fire Department including as deputy chief. He has private sector experience as a senior manager at Hallmark Health. He is a resident who is universally respected inside and outside of the fire station.”

According to Davis’ LinkedIn page, he has served as deputy chief since July 2012. He served as a fire captain from February 2010 to July 2012 and served as a fire lieutenant from June 2009 to February 2010. He served as a call firefighter from July 1990 to June 2009. He has worked as MelroseWakefield Healthcare’s Oncology Department’s operations manager since February 2011.

The selectmen decided to postpone appointing Davis as the town’s next fire chief because Selectman Phil Crawford was not present at the meeting. Dalton anticipates Davis will be appointed fire chief at the selectmen’s Nov. 5 meeting.

If Davis is appointed fire chief, he will tentatively begin his tenure on Jan. 1, 2019.

Dolan thanked the other candidates for applying for the job.

“Each one of the applicants were outstanding,” said Dolan.

According to an internal job posting obtained by the Villager, the town was looking for a candidate who has a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Emergency Medical Services, Public Administration, Business Administration or any equivalent degree.

Prospective candidates needed to have a minimum of 12 years experience with increasing operational and administrative responsibility in a fire department that provides EMS services. Local officials wanted a candidate who had experience working in a combination department.

According to the job description, the town was looking for a candidate who had eight years of experience working as an officer in an organized fire department and had management responsibilities. The town preferred hiring a candidate who has experience working as a chief fire officer.

“Completion of either a state certified chief fire officer program or the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program is highly desirable,” reads the job description.

In addition to having a valid Massachusetts driver’s license, the next fire chief will have “either a National Emergency Medical Technicians Certification or a Massachusetts Emergency Medical Certification at the time” of submitting an application.

According to the job description, the next fire chief needs to have the “ability to effectively develop and implement innovative short and long-range planning and goals.” The candidate also needed experience with “interagency coordination with public safety agencies” and “general knowledge of fire building codes and public education programs.”