SOUTHWICK -The new Southwick fire chief will be selected from among four candidates chosen by a preliminary screening committee.
The committee, headed by Selectman Douglas Moglin, recommended Russell Anderson of Granby, John Dewan of Pennsylvania, Michael Howley of Middletown, Conn., and John E. Mitchell, Jr., of South Hadley, as the finalists for the position.
Current Fire Chief Richard Anderson announced his plans to retire last year. Moglin said there was a pool of 17 applicants.
“We weeded through them and interviewed them over two solid days,” said Moglin, who thanked committee members, including Police Chief David Ricardi and Finance Committee member Arthur Pinell, for helping narrow the field of applicants.
Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart said the finalists would be interviewed by the Board of Selectmen in public session Feb. 4 beginning at 1 p.m. at Town Hall.
Each selectman will submit questions to Stinehart, which will then be reviewed by town counsel.
