There is going to be another change in top management of public safety in the second- largest city in western Massachusetts.
Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos Monday announced the planned retirement of Fire Chief Stephen Burkott, which is expected within a year. Burkott, 62, has been on the Chicopee Fire Dept. 41 years, the last dozen as chief.
" It truly was, or is, the best job in the world," said Burkott.
The announcement came five days after Kos appointed William Jebb as Chicopee Police Chief, ending two years of drama. Burkott said he hoped the selection of his successor would go smoothly.
"My intent was to provide the mayor and the city with a smooth transition. To allow people in my department adequate time to study and give the mayor sufficient time to appoint by successor.
Burkott said he would leave it for others to assess his accomplishments as chief of the department which ,has 143 firefighters — the second largest professional fire department in western Massachusetts. He said as chief he tried to be progressive.
"To be able to recognize the needs of the fire department are EMS based now. I think putting the full time ambulance service on is my best accomplishment."
Kos praised Burkott for his management of the department during years when municipal budgets had to be cut.
"To be able to maintain the quality of firefighter and ambulance care we have been able to under his leadership really speaks well."
Kos estimated it would take a year before a new chief is appointed. The position is governed by Massachusetts Civil Service rules, which means the job will not be available to someone outside the Chicopee Fire Department. The department’s five deputy chiefs are eligible to take a written test. If fewer than three deputy chiefs opt to take the exam it would be opened up to captains.
Kos said he will probably contract for psychological and performance evaluations of the three finalists to help make the appointment.
Burkott said he will wait for his successor to be appointed before stepping down.
Burkott said he decided in January to retire, but he waited to inform Kos, who was in the middle of a controversy over the appointment of a police chief.
The Massachusetts Civil Service Commission vacated the appointment of Thomas Charette by Kos’s predecessor Michael Bissonette. The commission found that the Jebb had been wrongly passed over for promotion by Bissonette because of political and personnel bias.
After a last- ditch effort failed to get a state judge to block the appointment of a new police chief, Charette announced his retirement, and Jebb was sworn in as chief.
