Published in the June 27, 2018 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — The town will soon begin searching for a new fire chief.

The Board of Selectmen voted last week not to renew Fire Chief Mark Tetreault’s contract. The selectmen discussed the contract situation with Tetreault in executive session.

While Selectmen Chairman Dick Dalton declined commenting on the decision, Town Administrator Rob Dolan provided the following statement that he gave to firefighters, local officials and town employees.

“Please be advised that (June 18), the Board of Selectmen voted not to renew the contract of Chief Mark Tetreault,” Dolan wrote. “The chief’s contract expires at the end of the calendar year. In my short time as town administrator, I have been so impressed with the dedication and professionalism of each of you. During this time of transition, my expectation is that every member of the department will continue this professionalism by respecting Chief Tetreault and the office he holds, and remaining steadfast in advancing our department to provide the best care and protection for the citizens we serve every day. I know each of you expect nothing less. Thank you for your continued dedication to the citizens of Lynnfield.”

Dolan informed the Villager the selectmen had until June 30 to decide whether to extend Tetreault’s contract.

Tetreault provided the following statement on the situation.

“As the selectmen’s agenda indicated, this matter involves contract negotiations, which are best carried on privately,” said Tetreault. “I understand why the notice was given, as the selectmen were required to give me a six-month notice or the contract would automatically renew. A similar notice is routinely given just to protect the town’s options, and I understand that. The same thing happens in union contracts where the parties intend to continue negotiations, sometimes well beyond the actual expiration of a collective bargaining agreement. 

“I thoroughly enjoy the job and, as the selectmen indicated, they do not have any complaints about my performance,” Tetreault continued. “We have a great department and our staff provides wonderful service to our citizens. I am hopeful that we can work out a mutually agreeable contract before my current one expires at the end of the year. If not, I will still be chief and will be willing to work without a contract, as is often the case with fire chiefs across the state. Therefore, I want to keep any discussions confidential and I do not want to comment any further at this time.” 

Tetreault began his tenure as Lynnfield’s fire chief in early 2014, succeeding retired Fire Chief Joseph Lingel. He served as Barnstead, New Hampshire’s fire chief prior to leading the Lynnfield Fire Department. Tetreault served as captain/fire marshal of the Londonderry Fire Department for three-and-a-half years. He was the fire marshal of the Durham Fire Department for over six years and was the fire inspector of that department from 1996-2000. He began his career in the fire service in 1980 as an Explorer in the Franklin, New Hampshire, Fire Department.

The fire chief helped overhaul the Fire Department in January 2017, when the department implemented a new staffing model that was three years in the making. The Fire Department added two career firefighters to its current staff of permanent and call firefighters in order to provide coverage 12 hours per day, seven days per week.

As part of the revamped system, the Fire Department’s hours are now 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. seven days per week. The Fire Department’s old shifts were 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“It was a long process and we had some obstacles to overcome with the collective bargaining agreement, but we all came together in the end to make this work,” said Tetreault in an interview with the Villager in January 2017.

Tetreault also helped launch a Fire Explorer program for students.

Dalton and Selectman Phil Crawford criticized Tetreault during the fiscal year 2019 budget process when the fire chief proposed adding an administrative support person, totaling $45,000. Tetreault proposed adding a clerical employee in order to alleviate the load carried Fire Lt. James Alexander, whom Tetreault said “has been doing clerical work for a number of years.” The position was not added in the FY’19 operating budget.

Dolan gave no indication when the search for a new fire chief would begin.