Capt. Mears Named Acting Fire Chief

by | Aug 19, 2017

By Elizabeth F. McNamara 

The Town Council voted 4-0 to appoint Captain Thomas Mears as acting fire chief in an unusual Saturday morning meeting at Town Hall that was filled to overflowing. The action ends three days of fierce speculation and uncertainty over just who Town Manager Gayle Corrigan was planning to recommend to the Town Council.

During the brief meeting, Councilman Mark Schwager questioned the necessity of the meeting. Fire Chief Russ McGillivray went out on a medical leave Thursday (8/17) and had named Mears to cover for him during his absence, something he had done several times before, both he and Mears confirmed Saturday.

Firefighters and others arrive for the Town Council’s early morning meeting Saturday to name an acting fire chief.

“The reason this meeting was necessary is because according to our charter, the town manager shall, it’s not a “may,” it’s not a “can,” it’s “shall” make a recommendation to the Town Council when the fire chief is out on a disability,” Town Council President Sue Cienki responded.

Cienki said McGillivray had recommended Mears for the job.

“All we’re doing is confirming his recommendation,” she said.

“By putting out an agenda and calling a Saturday morning meeting, you’ve created a tremendous amount of anxiety and insecurity,” Schwager said. “The chief is due to be back to two weeks. The charter calls for an appointment only in the event of an extended absence.”

The clause in the Charter reads: “In case of the extended absence or disability of the Fire Chief, the Town Manager shall appoint an Acting Fire Chief with the approval of the Town Council.”

After the meeting, Capt. Mears (the now acting fire chief) said he had not been told he was the person the Town Council was appointing and had never met or spoken with Town Manager Corrigan. On duty at the Fire Department Saturday morning, Mears had arrived at Town Hall only minutes before the meeting having been called there because of possible overcrowding. He said he had covered for Chief McGillivray perhaps 10 times in the past.

In an interview Thursday, Cienki said she didn’t know who Corrigan was planning to name. When asked if Corrigan would appoint the senior captain to the position as had been regular practice, Cienki said she did not know.

“I wasn’t sure what exactly was going on,” Cienki said after the Saturday morning meeting. She said the meeting needed to be held and that it “was not trolling of the fire department.”

She added, “I told you it was no big deal. I didn’t say who because I didn’t know Tom Mears’ name. I didn’t know who Russ appointed. I didn’t know he appointed anybody.”

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Thom Cahir
Thom Cahir
August 19, 2017 5:45 pm

“I didn’t know.” Is that going to be Cienki’s bumper sticker slogan for re-election?

Janet Volpe
Janet Volpe
August 19, 2017 11:07 pm

The last two paragraphs are beyond belief. “I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on.”!! I didn’t say who because I didn’t know Tom Mear’s name. The head of the Town Council can’t ask Corrigan what’s going on? She can’t call McGillivray and ask who he recommends? I’m thinking that if so many townsfolk hadn’t shown up. Corrigan might have hired a complete outsider( friend?)to fill in. Stay vigilant my friends.

John Galt
John Galt
August 20, 2017 1:46 am

So this qualifies as “reporting?” I don’t think so…

Alan Clarke
Alan Clarke
August 21, 2017 12:27 pm

John Galt: The reporting is fine. There just isn’t much of a story. They had a meeting to appoint someone who has already been appointed. Appointed by the Chief, appointed by the Town Manager, but a question of the Council needing to be in the process too. Since the council didn’t even seem to know who was appointed by name, there really wasn’t much of a purpose to the meeting either. Still, EG News covered the meeting such as it was. Biting on the messenger’s toes, are we?

EG resident
EG resident
August 23, 2017 12:48 am

Should have kept it a district instead of merging with the town

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