Fire Chief Interviews To Begin, Again

The Shelton Board of Fire Commissioners will conduct another round of interviews Tuesday night to fill the city's Fire Chief position, which has been vacant for over a year.

Starting at 6 p.m. in room 104, the following candidates will be interviewed: Mike Ullrich, Paul Wilson and Fran Jones. All three have passed a written test of general fire safety knowledge. Once the commissioners make their choice, they will put in a formal recommendation to the aldermen, who can vote the person in or out.

"We need to bring each guy in and see where they're going to bring the department, what are their plans, how they would run the department" said commissioner Ben McGorty.

Ullrich, a 23-year veteran volunteer firefighter and newly-elected 2012 Board Commissioner, was the board’s unanimous choice for the chief’s job earlier this year. The board actually recommended Ullrich two times for consideration to Mayor Mark A. Lauretti. Ullrich was one of two candidates who applied for the job when the search began late last year, and was the top scorer on the chief’s test.

Lauretti rejected Ullrich both times, once in May and again in June, only saying that Ullrich is “incompatible.” Lauretti has said he would not “get into personalities” over the matter. Aldermanic President John Anglace said an

Under the City Charter, Lauretti has the authority to accept or reject the board’s recommendation for chief.

"This time is a whole new testing process," McGorty explained. "Mike [Ullrich] was the choice last time. I don't know if he'll be the choice this time. We'll see what happens with that."

While Lauretti has argued that Shelton's fire departments have been operating just fine without a Chief, residents and firefighters are growing frustrated with the back and forth process.

"It’s a dog and pony show. A lot of it is basically for show, to make it seem like they’re doing something when they really aren’t,” said Danielle Elwood, whose husband, William, is an firefighter. "He has been working 70 or 80 hours a week."

Elwood said she suspects that Fran Jones is applying for the position because "he and Lauretti are very tight." Jones was Fire Chief but quit in November 2009 and is now reapplying to get his job back.

In related news, the 2012 Echo Hose Hook and Ladder officers were voted in this past Thursday, Dec. 1. All positions become effective on Jan. 1, 2012:

ASSISTANT CHIEF: Paul Wilson

CAPTAIN: Mike Plavcan

1ST LIEUTENANT: Steve Hoffmann

2ND LIEUTENANT: Chris DeAngelis

COMMISSIONER: Mike Ullrich

SECRETARY: Matt Skurat

TREASURER: Max Aulet

COMPUTER SECRETARY: Patrick Buckley