GEORGETOWN — Selectmen Monday revealed their pick for fire chief would not be current chief Michael Anderson, but Boxford fire Captain Albert Beardsley.
Beardsley was voted in as chief by a vote of 2-1, with Selectman Evan O'Reilly dissenting. O'Reilly's first choice was Anderson.
Before the vote, the selectmen took turns ranking the three finalists and giving their reasoning behind their decisions.
O'Reilly went first, ranking Anderson ahead of Beardsley, with third contender Michael Carrier last.
"Mike Anderson has support from the community, with a petition signed by 64 people and the recommendation of two local fire chiefs," O'Reilly said.
Also, O'Reilly said that Anderson has made a positive impact on the department during his two-year interim chief stint.
Selectman Phil Trapani said he was looking for someone with a wide breadth of experience who would act as an inspiration and mentor to young firefighters.
"We have three very different candidates. One is acting chief, one is an outsider, and one has a bit of both," Trapani said. "I based my ranking on speaking with people both in the fire department and the community as well as experience."
Trapani ranked Beardsley first, then Anderson and finally Carrier.
Agreeing with Trapani was Selectmen Chairman Matt Vincent, who gave the same rank order.
"This was a painful week. If I let myself follow my heart, I'd have to hire my friend Mike Anderson, but I had to look at resumes and experience so I have put Al first," Vincent said. "I was left weighing experience versus my heart and loyalty."
Beardsley has 40 years' experience as a firefighter and is also a trainer for the Massachusetts Fire Academy. Anderson, though current interim chief, has 15 years experience and is currently taking classes to upgrade his knowledge of firefighting.
O'Reilly argued for Anderson, saying that resumes cannot match community involvement, which Anderson has from his years working for the fire department, as a lifelong resident and as a local business owner. He also said that Anderson had not been given the chance to prove himself with the chief job being labeled "interim".
Vincent, however, said that while community support for Anderson was great, letters and correspondence he received from firefighters was mixed. "There is a significant group of firefighters who believed there would be a change when we hired the fire chief. There is 2 ¬½ years of history behind this decision and tensions in the department that cannot be ignored," Vincent said.
"You are telling all the people in town who think Mike should have this job that you know better. That's just arrogant," O'Reilly said to Vincent.
In the end, Vincent and Trapani voted to appoint Beardsley to the job, which will start out as part time, contingent on a background check and an agreement to job terms.
