City Council members have unanimously agreed that Fire Chief Matthew R. Timerman needs some help to run the Fire Department.
On Monday night, council members voted, 5-0, to reinstate the position of a deputy fire chief after it had gone unfilled for the past two years.
Chief Timerman requested that the deputy chief position be reestablished because he said he needed some help. He was having difficulty completing all the administration duties and was concerned it was putting the city and the department “at risk.”
After the vote, Chief Timerman said he was pleased with the council’s decision, emphasizing that it would be “in the best service of taxpayers.”
Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero pointed out that it was not going to be a new position, that the department had a deputy chief.