NEWBURYPORT — Mayor Donna Holaday has begun the process to name an interim fire chief to assume command of the Fire Department following Stephen Cutter’s retirement next week, city officials say.
Cutter is scheduled to retire on Friday, Feb. 15, after 34 years with the department, the last 14 as chief.
A screening committee has begun work to find a new chief. Applications for the job have been submitted by 45 professional firefighters.
But the search will take time, and several firefighters who attended the meeting of the screening committee on Tuesday said they were unclear about the naming of an interim chief.
“It’s of concern to us that we do not know who will be the leading the department after Feb. 15,” local union leader Bob Morse said.
But Holaday said yesterday that interim chiefs are being interviewed and the position will be temporarily filled by Feb. 15.




