Article Last Updated:
Monday, February 11, 2002 - 5:41:20 AM MST

Ganim to give fire chief new 5-year contract

By JOEL C. THOMPSON
jthompson@ctpost.com

BRIDGEPORT -- Fire Chief Michael A. Maglione has the support of Mayor Joseph P. Ganim to stay on the job for another five years.

"The chief has done a great job," Ganim said of plans to extend Maglione's contract. "I'm very satisfied with his performance."

The mayor, in his State of the City address last week, said he wants to give Maglione another five years at the helm of the 350-member Bridgeport Fire Department.

Ganim said negotiations will begin shortly on Maglione's new contract, which must be approved by the City Council.

"I told the mayor last month I was interested in serving another five years. His announcement was a pleasant surprise," said Maglione, who attended the mayor's speech. "The past five years went by very fast."

Maglione, who has been with the Fire Department 31 years, was sworn in as the city's 16th chief on June 5, 1997.

He is currently paid a $97,500 annual salary, and raises are determined by the supervisor union's contract with the city.

"I think, as do many of my colleagues, that Mike Maglione has done an exemplary job for the Fire Department," City Council President John Fabrizi said. "A lot of that success results from his coming up through the ranks to become chief."

Fabrizi said the council does not yet have the paperwork for renewing Maglione's contract but will act on it as soon as it is received.

Looking back on the last five years, Maglione said he is grateful there have been few fire-related deaths. The last claimed the life of Helen Belinkie, 87, of Park Avenue, on Dec. 7, 2000.

The blaze apparently started when Belinkie fell asleep while smoking. She was the wife of Superior Court Judge Milton H. Belinkie and an author of several diet cookbooks.

The success at fire prevention and limiting the number of fire-related deaths and injuries, Maglione said, is largely attributable to the hard work and dedication of the department's firefighters and supervisors.

Maglione has stressed fire prevention by waging a campaign to install smoke detectors in apartments and homes throughout the city.

The chief said the lowest point in his tenure was the death of Fire Capt. Walter Flyntz, a 10-year veteran, who died of a heart attack on March 17, 1999, while fighting a fire at a Fremont Street apartment.

As is the case with the city's police chief, Maglione is eligible to serve two five-year terms, according to the city charter. After 10 years, the city must conduct a nationwide search for a successor.

Joel C. Thompson, who covers law enforcement issues, can be reached at 330-6377.