Troy Fire Chief Thomas O. Garrett will retire this week, then cross the Hudson River to become the part-time chief of the Watervliet Fire Department.
“It will be good to have an experienced chief come in,” Mayor Michael Manning said Tuesday, of the Watervliet Fire Department.
Watervliet Fire Chief Robert Conlen recently retired from command of the 24 officers and firefighters in Watervliet creating the vacancy for chief.
Manning said Garrett’s more than 20 years of experience leading Troy will be invaluable for Watervliet as the city looks to groom a successor to promote from within the department. Troy’s 2019 budget for the fire department calls for 120 firefighters and officers.
Garrett is expected to start at the end of January. The soon to be former Troy fire chief will work part-time as a decision is made how to proceed with the department, Manning said.