City's fire chief dilemma worsens as Sayre retires

The Watertown Fire Department may temporarily be under the leadership of a battalion chief this spring.

City Manager Mary M. Corriveau announced Monday night that acting Chief Milton M. Sayre will retire April 10, meaning one of the department's own will likely be appointed to the position.

The chief's retirement comes as the city waits for results of civil service exams given in January for an open competitive and a promotional test for both the chief and now vacant deputy chief's positions. Of those interested in the positions, 14 candidates took at least one of the tests and nine candidates took the deputy chief test as well.

"We knew he had wanted to retire sometime in April when he originally signed on to take the job," Mrs. Corriveau said.

Mr. Sayre, who was originally slated to retire in 2009, has filled in as the chief after former Chief Daniel J. Gaumont resigned last March ago to take a position in Keller, Texas.

"We could potentially be months without a chief," Councilman Jeffrey M. Smith said.

While council members displayed frustration that a replacement has not yet been found, the fire department's union president expressed confidence that a battalion chief can step in to the leadership role.

"Of the five battalion chiefs, four of them have 20 years or more on the job," said Timothy "Tucker" Wiley, president of Watertown Firefighters Local 191. "They're all very well qualified."

Mr. Wiley also said he was frustrated that the test results have not been submitted to the city.

"I can not believe they're not back yet," he said. "They normally get those back in four to six weeks. I don't understand what is taking so long."

Elizabeth U. Morris, executive secretary of the Civil Service Commission, has not yet received the results from the state Department of Civil Service in Albany. In January, she said she expected the results to be back in about six weeks.

The city's Civil Service Commission is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. today, but has not included the test results on its agenda.

Mr. Wiley said he plans to attend the meeting to voice his concerns.

"We're so deep into it now, what's it matter?" asked Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham. "There's either going to be a list of candidates, or there isn't."

Mr. Gaumont was appointed to the position in December 1999 by then-City Manager Jerry C. Hiller. He was then forced to take, and pass, a civil service exam the following January before being given the job permanently.

Despite being light on leadership in the last 12 months, the department has held together well, Mr. Wiley said.

"It was actually a pretty slow winter," he said. "Our call volume pretty much stayed up, but we were down on fire calls."