Outgoing Swampscott fire chief, former firefighter positions to be replaced; dept. would be down 3 men

SWAMPSCOTT-Town officials have approved a six-month leave of absence for firefighter Jennifer Bleiker and approved calling for a civil service list to fill two positions.Earlier this year Lt. David Marsh left the department and the Board of Selectmen voted 4-1 in March to leave his position unfilled even though the position was already included in the budget. This week, the Selectmen voted to call for a civil service list to replace Marsh and to fill another position that will be vacant in June when Fire Chief Richard Carmody retires.Carmody said the department is currently down four firefighters and only one of those slots would be filled.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said the vote to fill the positions was unanimous in part because of concern about staffing levels when firefighters are out on leave.Calls to Board of Selectmen Chairman Anthony Scibelli were not immediately returned Thursday, but Selectman Jill Sullivan confirmed the Selectmen authorized calling for a civil service list to fill both positions in the Fire Department.Since Marsh left, Carmody said he has been running four groups of eight firefighters, which only allows the department to respond with two pieces of equipment. He said his preference is to run four groups of nine firefighters each, which allows the department to respond with two engines and a ladder.?In 1908 we were running two engines,” he said. “Until now the town has always been able to send two engines to a scene. I hope the Selectmen fill the remaining vacancies so we can run two engines and a ladder.”Firefighters Union President William Hyde Jr. said filling a vacant position and agreeing to fill Carmody’s position is a step in the right direction.?I encourage them to promote from within when it comes to hiring a chief,” he said. “But we’re still going to be down three people. In five years the Fire Department has gone from placing nine firefighters at a scene with two engines and one ladder to placing as few as seven firefighters with one engine and one ladder. If we were running at full staff it would reduce overtime and be better for the town from the safety aspect.”