Deputy Fire Chief Robert Poggio has been named acting chief of the fire department, but he has indicated to city officials that he does not have an interest in taking the position permanently.
Poggio was appointed to the temporary position Thursday evening by the Board of Fire Commissioners. Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, who sits on the board, said the decision was made in large part because of Poggio’s willingness to take on the “day-to-day” decision-making responsibilities until a permanent chief is named, and that he is not interested at this time in becoming chief.
“I did not want someone going into an interview saying they were serving in an interim capacity,” Zoppo-Sassu said. “I want it to be a fair and level playing field.”
According to Zoppo-Sassu, the city will look to promote someone internally to fire chief.