With disagreement, Nahant approves new on-call firefighters

NAHANT – Nahant selectmen disagreed over the criteria needed to be a town call firefighter when Selectmen Mike Manning halted approval of the list at a meeting Thursday.Manning pointed out that one of 14 firefighters on the list for approval, Neil Rossman, was an older firefighter who did not live or work in town. Rossman, an attorney who has represented many firefighter unions in legal cases, is former Swampscott firefighter and a resident of the town.Manning said he used to serve as a call firefighter himself, but stopped in his sixties, and said he believed Rossman was “of the same vintage.”?Why would we appoint someone who is not a resident, doesn?t work in the town and wouldn?t be in town for evening, as a call firefighter?” asked Manning. “I think to name him raises issues. I question whether we should do this.”Vice Chairman Perry Barrasso agreed with Manning. “If he?s not working in town, not living in town, are there better able-bodied firemen we could putting in the position?” asked Barrasso.Town Administrator Andy Bisignani said Rossman was added to the list per Hyde?s recommendation because he was a former teacher at the fire academy, and therefore could help Nahant firefighters in training exercises. “The chief felt with his experience, he had something more to offer than just his body,” said Bisignani.Rossman confirmed his teaching experience at the academy in an interview Friday, adding, “I helped to write national fire safety standards that all firefighters work under now around the country.” Rossman also said he has been a firefighter since 1968.Chairman Rich Lombard said Rossman was in “great shape,” and had just run a marathon. “He will be a welcome addition, especially if the fire chief requested his appointment,” said Lombard. “It?s not something I would take lightly to go against the fire chief.”During the vote, Manning moved to approve the list of firefighters without Rossman, an amendment that failed without a second. The entire list was approved in a vote 2-1, with Manning voting no.In an interview Friday, Bisignani said it doesn?t cost the town anything to have the firefighters on call, and not all of them live or work in town. Bisignani said the firefighters are paid by the hour at a rate of $15.50 to $22, depending on experience.Hyde could not be reached for comment Friday because he was on vacation.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].