Southwick Board of Selectmen Chairman Russell Fox shakes the hand of Mike Demko, who retired from both the town Department of Public Works and Fire Department this year, during the July 29 selectmen’s meeting. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
SOUTHWICK – The Board of Selectmen recognized former town employee Michael Demko last night for his service to the town’s Fire Department and Department of Public Works.
Demko retired as a deputy chief for the town’s fire department and as the DPW supervisor this year.
“Mike has been in the fire service for 44 years,” said Selectmen Chairman Russell Fox. “He started in Agawam in January of 1969 and came to the Southwick Fire Department in 1986.”
Demko worked for the DPW for 17 years and spent four years with the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Fire Crew.
“He earned the respect from the surrounding communities,” said Fox.
Fire Chief Richard Anderson was on hand to wish Demko well.
“When you attain 40-plus years in fire service, that’s quite an accomplishment,” said Anderson. “You will be missed.”
Selectwoman Tracy Cesan touted Demko as a hard worker.
“You gave the last 17 years to the town and you gained respect,” she said.
Demko said his time in Southwick was “an interesting ride” and added that he is now enjoying spending time with his family and staying busy.
Demko’s DPW supervisor position, as well as the DPW director position, is currently not filled.
The board discussed how to proceed with interviewing candidates. Last month, four applicants for the supervisor position were interviewed but the board decided that because some of them were interested in – and qualified for – the director position, they would hold off on hiring a supervisor until the director was on board.
Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart said the board had two options to proceed with the eight candidates for the job. One was to form a preliminary screening committee to review applicants and narrow the list of candidates down to come before the full board for interviews.
“That’s similar to how we did the Senior Center director search,” said Stinehart.
The other process would be for the board to interview all eight candidates but not all the applicants had given permission to have their interest in the job made public yet.
The first option would stretch out the hiring process, which began in late May.
Cesan suggested the board consider interviewing all eight candidates because they had already reviewed their applications.
“I don’t have any problem with that,” said Fox.
The board unanimously agreed to seek approval from all candidates to interview them in a public session and set up a date for all interviews in a four-hour session of eight 30-minute interviews.
