Essex sets out how it will choose its first full-time fire chief, aiming for Feb. 1
At their Oct. 5 meeting, selectmen named a member to the search committee, reviewed the chief's job description and went article by article through the fall town meeting warrant, including the Essex share of the new school.
Essex selectmen on Monday mapped out how the town will pick its first full-time fire chief, with a goal of having that person start Feb. 1.
Voters still have to approve the change at fall town meeting in November. But Town Administrator Brendhan Zubricki said the search has to start right away to hit that date. The town can advertise the job now, he said, as long as the posting says it depends on the town meeting vote.
The road to a full-time chief
From job description to first day
- Oct. 19Selectmen plan to approve the job description.
- Late OctoberJob is posted, saying it depends on the town meeting vote.
- DeadlineAll applications collected before interviews start.
- ScreeningA small committee interviews in private and sends three finalists.
- NovemberTown meeting votes on switching to a selectmen-appointed chief.
- Open sessionSelectmen interview finalists, pick one and negotiate a contract.
- Feb. 1, 2027Target start date for the new chief.
Order of steps as described by the town administrator Oct. 5. Only the Oct. 19 and Feb. 1 dates were set; the others depend on how the search goes.
Who will screen the candidates
Zubricki proposed using the same process the town used to hire its last police chief. A small committee meets in private, because applicants with jobs elsewhere may not want their names known until they are finalists. It weeds out applicants, interviews the rest and sends the selectmen three names. The selectmen will see every application as it comes in.
The board voted to put Selectman Dexter Lee-Viator on the committee. Chairman Ann Cameron said the school building project is taking much of her time.
The screening committee, as discussed
Only the selectman's seat was voted Oct. 5. The others are expected to be filled before the Oct. 19 meeting.
Where the chief can live
The draft job description says the chief "will" live in Essex, a neighboring town or within a reasonable response time. Selectmen agreed to change "will" to "should," so a strong candidate who lives farther away is not shut out. Zubricki said he would ask the town's labor lawyer what the town can require.
Fire officials said distance matters. Fifteen miles as the crow flies can mean 45 minutes on local roads, and the town wants a working chief who goes to calls, one fire officer said. Another town handles a far away chief by keeping a deputy on duty nights and weekends. Town officials said Essex does not have money for that, but the fire officer said officers could take turns being on call instead.
Fire Chief Christian Hassel suggested ending the Board of Fire Engineers early and naming an interim chief to cover any gap. The selectmen preferred to keep the board in place until Jan. 31 and revisit it if the search drags on.
The selectmen had told the Fire Department last month to find about $50,000 in its own budget before the town hires a full-time chief. Fire officials said the fire company has found ways the math can work, and they expect to give a final answer Oct. 19. The department is also looking at raising ambulance bills paid by private insurers. Read our story on the $50,000 question.
The town also needs a new accountant
The town accountant has resigned, with her last day expected early in 2027. The job is posted on the Massachusetts Municipal Association's job board. One resume has come in so far. Zubricki said it is hard to find town accountants at the pay Essex can offer.
Essex's share of the new school: about $25 million
Zubricki read the latest figures for the new Essex Elementary School. After the state grant, the two towns would split about $74.9 million. Essex pays about one third.
Who pays for the school
$95,351,985 total
The town meeting article must list the full cost as if there were no state grant, Zubricki said, and he will add a note explaining that. The money goes to the school district, which does the borrowing, and the towns pay it back.
Prices are based on bids around 2028. Officials said building code requirements, tariffs on steel and the cost of petroleum products are pushing the price up. Asked whether the price is locked in once voters approve it, officials said it depends on the bids. The district's last two school projects did not need more money from voters.
Cameron urged residents to attend the community meetings on the school: Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. at Essex Elementary School; Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. at Manchester Memorial School; and Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. at Essex Elementary. Read how the $95 million plan compares with other new schools.
The fall town meeting warrant, article by article
Zubricki walked the board through the latest draft, with wording changes from town counsel. The selectmen plan to sign the final warrant Oct. 19. By law it must be posted at least 14 days before town meeting.
Fall town meeting warrant, draft as of Oct. 5
| Article | What it does | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 6 | Planning Board zoning changes, including first rules requiring some affordable homes in larger new housing and a temporary ban on data centers. The Planning Board will hold a public hearing. | Hearing ahead |
| 7 | The new Essex Elementary School, listed at full cost before the state grant, with a note explaining the grant. | On the warrant |
| 8 | Adopt the state law that lets selectmen hire a full-time fire chief. The wording will say firefighters, not firemen. | On the warrant |
| 9 | A fund to help older and disabled taxpayers. Tax and excise bills would get a checkbox for voluntary gifts. | On the warrant |
| 10 | Replacing carbon filter media that removes PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals, from the water supply. | On the warrant |
| 11 | Studies to set water and sewer rates that cover yearly costs. | On the warrant |
| 12 | Public works software for work orders and equipment. A new $30,000 mapping add-on was questioned and may be dropped, since the town already has mapping. | Cost unsettled |
| 13 | A police cruiser. | On the warrant |
| 14 | Community Preservation spending, which could include erosion control at Centennial Grove and boat racks the harbormaster wants at the lake. | Cost unsettled |
| 15 to 17 | Money for the town's savings accounts, the reserve fund and retiree health insurance. The Finance Committee is weighing $500,000 to $750,000 for retiree health, depending on the state's count of free cash. | Amounts pending |
Source: town administrator's review at the Oct. 5 meeting. Articles 18 and 19 had no changes. A joint meeting with the Board of Public Works set for Oct. 7, meant to settle some of these amounts, was canceled and has no new date.
The board also debated a new column on the town meeting handout that shows which boards back each article. A selectman worried that a missing board name could look like opposition. Members agreed to think about the wording before Oct. 19.
Also at the meeting
- Marshview Farm Store. The board approved a new manager for the store at 91 Main St., which sells beer and wine. The approval depends on a background check.
- Public events. Zubricki showed a draft application form so organizers learn up front what permits and police or fire coverage an event needs and what it will cost. Members suggested 45 to 60 days' notice. The town plans to try it out on a few events before spring.
- Housing grant. Essex, Ipswich and Wenham won a $65,000 state planning grant to help shape rules requiring affordable homes in new housing. The work must be done by June 30.
- Downtown visioning. The Sept. 29 forum drew about 35 people and 86 survey responses. The town planner will send a summary and look for grants for the simpler ideas. Read what residents said.
- Firefighters. Ryan Crompton and Cory Goodwin were appointed probationary firefighter and EMTs.
- Other votes. The board approved a weekly warrant of $396,283.91, the Sept. 28 minutes, the Essex Cultural Council's grants and a license for the Chebacco Lake and Watershed Association to use the Centennial Grove cottage. A resident with social media experience offered to help write a policy for the town's Facebook page.
How we did this
Cape Ann Current watched the meeting video on YouTube and on the Town of Essex website, and checked names and titles against the selectmen's minutes and the agenda. This story was produced with the help of AI tools and checked against the documents listed below. If you see an error, tell us at [email protected].
Earlier coverage: Essex selectmen to take up a full time fire chief job description (Oct. 2), the meeting preview; Essex fire department told to find $50,000 (Sept. 30); Essex fall town meeting preview (Sept. 30); How the $95 million Essex school compares (Oct. 7). Same week: Manchester boards on the school's cost.
Sources
See something wrong? Email [email protected]. Read our standards and corrections policy.