ORANGE — The search for a new fire chief continues after the Selectboard withdrew offers to two candidates put forth by the screening committee that was tasked with finding a replacement for interim Fire Chief James Young Jr.
Negotiations failed with Tim Matthews, a captain with the Orange Fire Department, and Kevin Grebinar, of the Manchester (New Hampshire) Fire Department, and the Selectboard voted last week to form another search committee.
Young, following 27½ with the Orange Fire Department and 10½ as its chief, had announced in January his plans to step down, as he took a job in Londonderry, New Hampshire, starting in mid-February. However, he continues serving as Orange’s interim chief until his replacement is hired.
Matthews and Grebinar were the final two candidates selected by the Preliminary Fire Chief Screening Committee made up of Athol Deputy Fire Chief Eric Jack, retired Barre Fire Chief Rich Stevens, Town Administrator Matthew Fortier, then-Orange Selectboard Chair Tom Smith and Assistant Assessor Kristen Cormier.
The new search committee’s members are expected to be appointed at the Selectboard meeting on Wednesday, July 1.
Dan Emerson, vice president of Orange Career Firefighters Local 4569, spoke at the most recent Selectboard meeting to express his department’s exhaustion.
“It’s been 18 weeks since we’ve had a full-time chief,” Emerson said. “The captains are getting tired.”
Emerson also recommended putting different fire chiefs on the new search committee, to generate more input.
Selectboard Chair Julie Davis, who is likely to serve on the committee, expressed optimism about a renewed search.
“I will do my best to make sure that our search is fair and wide,” she said, “and that we present good candidates.”
