The Fire Commission has unanimously decided that Acting Fire Chief Jerry Myers will become the head of the department.
The commission conducted a nearly hour-long interview with Myers Wednesday night before announcing that he will be promoted to fire chief. Myers, formerly the assistant chief, has acted as interim fire chief since former chief Kevin Tappe retired in January.
“There were some good applications that came in but I have to say in the interview tonight it was clear that we have the right man for the job,” said fire commission member and First Selectman Rudy Marconi.
Myers took over as acting fire chief at the end of last year when Tappe was placed on administrative leave for a then unspecified policy violation.
Tappe appeared to have been drinking heavily when he showed up to a December 18 fire, said a report released by the town in March in response to a Freedom of Information request from The News-Times. Tappe officially retired in January.