SOUTHWICK DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF RICHARD STEFANOWICZ
SOUTHWICK – Southwick Deputy Fire Chief Richard Stefanowicz Feb. 18 strongly recommended the Southwick Select Board hire one of its call firefighters for a full-time position.
The Southwick Fire Department is still seeking fulltime paramedics and the firefighter recommended by Stefanowicz is currently taking classes to become a paramedic. He was among the candidates interviewed last month to fill two fulltime slots. Select Board members offered the positions to other candidates, and one chose to withdraw his application.
Board members Tuesday tabled the request to weigh the options.
All three selectmen agreed the recommended firefighter would be a great addition to the fulltime staff, however, he is at least a year away from completing his medic courses.
Selectman Douglas Moglin said he was reluctant to hire someone so far out from receiving his certification.
Stefanowicz said to go back to square one and advertise the position would take time.
“It could be another four months before we get a viable candidate,” he said.
With many fire departments joining Southwick in requiring new hires to be both a firefighter and paramedic, potential employees are often one or the other. Moglin said they had to approach it differently to attract candidates who are already paramedics and ideally also a firefighter.
“We need to start thinking outside the box,” said Moglin.
Moglin said part of the mandate for the Southwick Fire Department becoming an Advanced Life Support department was having a full slate of paramedics within the next three years.
“Even if we hire three more people, we will still have a spot” for the recommended candidate, said Moglin.
Stefanowicz said he understood that hiring him would be a commitment from the town to hire someone who is not yet a paramedic. Currently, three members of the department are pursuing their medic certification and two of them are just a few months from completing the program.
Select Board Chairman Russ Fox said the proposed firefighter is a town resident with roots in the community who wants to make his career in town. He said there is something to be said for that.
“When I looked at all the candidates, I was concerned about them staying in Southwick,” said Fox. “We have an opportunity with a candidate that’s going to stay. I’m willing to make that investment.”
Moglin said he needed a week to think about it and the Board agreed to table the request.
