Swampscott fire chief test results expected next week

SWAMPSCOTT – The town could appoint its first permanent fire chief in more than two years by the end of October.Kevin Thomsen was appointed acting chief as of July 2, when former acting chief Michael Champion retired. Champion was appointed acting chief in July 2008 when Chief Richard Carmody, the last permanent fire chief, retired.Town officials have previously hired permanent chiefs based on the results of the written civil service exam, but in recent years no one in the department passed.Selectmen voted earlier this year to move from a Civil Service written exam for chief to a Civil Service based assessment.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said the assessment was held on Sept. 14 and he is expecting the results next week. The four candidates who took the exam are Acting Chief Kevin Thomsen, Capt. Graham Archer, Lt. James Potts and Acting Deputy Chief Kevin Breen,”It’s a new process for us,” Breen said. “It was interesting being part of the first group (in town) going through this process.”Maylor said the assessment process had five components and it did not include a written exam.Maylor said the assessment consisted of tactical exercises, a mock press event and a mock community meeting.”A representative from Civil Service was present throughout the process,” Maylor said.Maylor said after the assessment rankings are issued, there is a waiting period to allow candidates to appeal their rankings.”After the appeal period I will make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen,” Maylor said. “The selectmen will then vote to appoint a new chief. I expect we will have a new chief in place by the end of October.”