The firefighters union is criticizing the search process to replace retiring Fire Chief Stephen Geldart after none of the 19 candidates who applied for the position – including four Hudson firefighters – was selected.
The initial candidate pool was whittled down to six finalists – including two Hudson firefighters – who attended an assessment center that put candidates through a battery of exercises covering all aspects of the profession such as technical knowledge, personnel administration, leadership and grant writing. Candidates were also evaluated by three active or retired Massachusetts fire chiefs and observed by a facilitator who is a retired police chief and attorney.
Executive Assistant Thomas Moses also attended the assessment center, which cost Hudson $6,000.
“Although each of the candidates had strengths, none distinguished themselves as Hudson fire chief-ready,” Moses wrote in a letter to the Board of Selectmen. “I will not appoint a fire chief from this field.”