Norwich’s fire chief will be stepping away in September - and for the time being, the fire department’s four battalion chiefs will carry his torch.
At last Monday’s City Council meeting, City Manager John Salomone announced that upon Fire Chief Ken Scandariato’s retirement, the battalion chiefs will serve, on a rotating basis, as interim chief until the position is permanently filled. The current battalion chiefs in the Norwich Fire Department are Gregory Despathy, Scott Merchant, Tracy Montoya and Keith Wucik.
“The position will be posted in the next two weeks and each battalion chief will be acting chief for approximately a two week period,” Salomone said, adding that the new chief, once selected, is expected to begin in November.
Scandariato has served as head of Norwich’s fire department for more than 13 years. He previously spent 27 years with the North Providence Fire Department in Rhode Island.
He said Sept. 6 will be his last day as head of the department.