Shelton Fire Commissioners To Reopen Testing For Fire Chief

Fully expecting Mayor Mark A. Lauretti to reject veteran firefighter Mike Ullrich a third time if they so recommended it, the Board of Fire Commissioners voted Tuesday to reopen the hiring process to find a new fire chief.

Starting the entire process all over again appears to be the most fair way to go at this point, commissioners said.

“Our firemen deserve a chief,” said Commissioner Ben McGorty said. “By restarting the hiring process and reposting the job, we may get a bigger pool of candidates, but I do believe it’s fair to start the process over again.”

Since May, Lauretti has twice rejected the board’s unanimous recommendation of Ullrich, who boasts 23 years of firefighting experience in Shelton. Lauretti has not given any explanation as to why he doesn’t want Ullrich for the job, only to say Ullrich is “incompatible.”

Ullrich is the most qualified candidate for the job, has the necessary experience and was the top scorer on the chief’s test, commissioners said.

Commission Vice-Chairman Tim Manion on Tuesday initially suggested that Daryl Osiecki, who was the second highest scorer, be recommended to Lauretti for the chief’s job. However, neither of the other two commissioners present at Tuesday’s meeting would second Manion’s motion to do so.

McGorty and the others felt if they put Ullrich’s name before Lauretti a third time, that Lauretti would reject their recommendation again.

Under the City Charter, the mayor has the authority to accept or reject the board’s recommendation for a fire chief, and is not required to give an explanation for his action.

Shelton has been without a fire chief since last November. That’s when former Fire Chief Fran Jones resigned. Since then, the city’s four assistant fire chiefs have been tasked with performing the daily duties of the fire chief, working on a weekly, rotating basis.

That scenario, however, is not the best case, McGorty has said, and naming an individual to lead the volunteer fire department over the next two years is what the firefighters, and the community, deserve.

McGorty did say if Ullrich reapplies for the chief’s job, and once again, comes out on top, then  the board will “cross that bridge when we get there.”

The chief’s job pays an annual salary of $15,000.

Many fellow firefighters, including Democratic mayoral candidate , and without a doubt is the right person to the lead the department’s 250 volunteers.

Ullrich was also the top choice among each of the city’s fire companies. He has previously filled in as acting chief, and has served nine years as an assistant chief.

“Mike Ullrich is the most qualified firefighter in the City of Shelton and is a true leader, as he has proven at so many fire scenes,” Jones has said.

Jones and Ullrich have since filed separate Freedom of Information complaints, alleging an illegal meeting took place between Lauretti and the assistant fire chiefs last Christmas Eve to discuss the chief’s vacancy. Lauretti has called the complaints against him “politics as usual.”

The board, also during its meeting Tuesday, reopened the testing process in search of new deputy chief, as well.