20 people attended the unexpectedly brief fire commission meeting earlier this month. It is unknown why the Mayor’s office directed the commission to remove the two agenda items. (Photo by Peter Currier)
WESTFIELD- The Westfield Fire Commission announced a special meeting Friday at 1 p.m. to consider an appointment for a new Westfield Fire Chief.
According to the posted meeting agenda, the meeting will begin with an executive session. The executive session will be to discuss, “the character, reputation, as opposed to professional competence, and/or complaints or charges brought against Deputy Fire Chief Patrick Egloff for the purpose of determining viability for either temporary or permanent promotion to chief of the fire department.”
Similar language originally appeared in the agenda for the regularly scheduled January 7th meeting. Just a couple hours before the meeting was set to begin, that item as well as an item to hold the actual vote were removed from the agenda with no reason given. After the meeting, Commission Chairman Albert Masciadrelli said that the items were removed at the direction of the Mayor’s office.
During the public participation portion of that meeting, City Councilor At-Large Matt Emmershy asked the commission if they would address the reasons for the removal of the two agenda items. Masciadrelli responded that there would be no conversation on the matter during the meeting. Commissioner Carlo Bonavita had tendered his resignation earlier that day leaving just Masciadrelli and Patrick Olearcek on what is supposed to be a three-person commission. The commission position vacated by the resignation of Bonavita is still open.
Also on the agenda for Friday’s special meeting is the resignation of Andy Hart from his position as interim Fire Chief. Hart has indicated previously that when he steps aside, he will resume his duties as Deputy Fire Chief. He has held the interim position since Chief Mary Regan retired last summer.
After accepting Hart’s resignation, the commission will discuss the options of filling the vacant Chief’s position. According to the Fire Superior Collective Bargaining agreement, the commission must consider the next most senior Westfield Deputy Fire Chief for the position, which would be Deputy Patrick Egloff.
