← Protection & License Committee · 2024-09-23 · Protection and License Committee Meeting
APPT-2025-7 : Appointment of John White, 40 Youle Street, Melrose, MA, as Fire Chief
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Minutes
Transcript
▶ 11:23 Mark Garipay: with the unanimous consent. Seeing no objections, the public comment, uh, portion of the meeting is closed tonight. We have one appointment before us that requires a vote. It is appointment number 2025 dash seven. It is the appointment of John White, 40 ELL Street, Melrose, mass as the fire chief for the City of Melrose. Uh, at this time, I will entertain a motion to suspend Rule 37 so that we can hear from the mayor and her appointee. Mr.
▶ 11:50 Robb Stewart: Chair, I'll make a motion to suspend Rule 37 B.
▶ 11:53 Speaker 1: Second. Second, I have a motion
▶ 11:55 Mark Garipay: to suspend Rule 37 B made by Vice Chair Stewart. Seconded by Council Firo on discussion.
▶ 12:05 Speaker 3: All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Okay.
▶ 12:07 Mark Garipay: Rule 37 B,
▶ 12:13 Speaker 3: I think it is BB is,
▶ 12:17 Mark Garipay: uh, is suspended. Um, so Ms. Ms. Mayor? Sure.
▶ 12:23 Jen Grigoraitis: Thank you Mr. Chair. Thank you. Committee members. I am really pleased to be here tonight to present John White as my selection for the next chief of the Melrose Fire Department. I know you all have your, his resume before you. He has spent his entire career serving this community is a Melrose High School graduate, um, and currently lives here with his family. Um, just by way of a little bit of background, I think you all know that Chief White, as our senior most captain, stepped into the role of Interim Chief, um, without a moment's hesitation for which I am forever grateful, as is this community. Um, but we did conduct an outside search for a new chief, um, using an outside firm so that there was some impartiality. We were able to conduct a climate survey of that was anonymous for those firefighters that wished to partic wish to participate, to understand what they saw as the priorities in their next leader, members of the public were also able to weigh in. We, um, conducted interviews that was done by a panel of former fire chiefs, then held an assessment center. There were six finalists, three internal and three external that participated in that. And then three of those finalists were invited in to interview with me. So while we, I have chosen the person who happened to be the next in line, I also believe that he is the right fit for this department at this moment. Um, I'm thrilled to have him taking over and look forward to working with him on behalf of this community.
▶ 13:43 Mark Garipay: Mr. White, would you like to say anything or,
▶ 13:46 Speaker 5: Thank you for having me here tonight. And, um, I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Melrose in my new role.
▶ 13:54 Ward Hamilton: Thank you. Um, any what the will of the, the committee? Anyone wanna have any questions? Mr. Hamilton? Just, Just one. Thank you. Thank you Chief. And, uh, thank you for your career of service to, to the city of Melrose. I appreciate it and I know our residents appreciate it. Uh, as you transition full-time into the role of chief, what do you see, uh, as some of your key challenges in the coming years? Um,
▶ 14:20 Speaker 5: Two biggest challenges we're facing right now is a staffing problem that I think almost all of, uh, any managers anywhere can't get enough help. And that's, that has really been a problem that has been really nagging us for a while. And the next challenge is getting the stations, the new stations built. Um, I'm proud to be serving on the public safety committee and I'm looking forward to, um, trying to find, um, answers to these challenges and, um, get the city moving forward.
▶ 14:53 Speaker 3: Thank you. Anyone else looking?
▶ 14:57 Mark Garipay: Okay. Uh, this will be a roll. Sorry. This will be a roll call vote, but, um, consulate Fania
▶ 15:03 Speaker 2: Just gonna make a motion to recommend. Second.
▶ 15:06 Mark Garipay: Second. Okay. We have a motion to, um, recommend, um, by Councilor Firo, seconded by Council Vice Chair Stewart. Um, on discussion. President, can you, uh,
▶ 15:19 Speaker 3: Can you take the role please?
▶ 15:22 Leila Migliorelli: Sure. Um, councilor Firo? Yes. Councilor Hamilton. Yes. Councilor Ky. Yes. Vice Chair Stewart? Yes. Chair Repe.
▶ 15:32 Speaker 4: Yes. Right. Let's,
▶ 15:34 Mark Garipay: That passes. Um, committee unanimously. This will be in front of our next council meeting, which I believe is October 7th. Seventh. Seventh. Um, it's up. You don't, as far as I'm concerned, you don't need to be here. But, um, I would check with you, your boss.