ANDREW BROPHY
Article Last Updated: 03/19/2008 11:02:03 PM EDT
FAIRFIELD — Fire Chief Richard Felner, a member of the town's firefighting force for nearly 50 years, will continue in his post three more years.
The Fire Commission voted 5-0 last week to extend Felner's contract from July 1 to June 30, 2011. Felner's annual salary, now $133,942, will be set in future fiscal years by First Selectman Kenneth Flatto, who also must approve the contract extension.
"I'm very supportive of their action and I am in the process of preparing documents for a new contract to cover this three-year period," Flatto said Tuesday afternoon.
Fire Commissioner Anthony Jannotta said Felner "has shown tremendous leadership and dedication to the Fairfield Fire Department" and that the town is lucky to have a fire chief who had spent his entire career as a firefighter.
"He has been a tireless public servant and has fostered a great relationship with the town," Jannotta said.
Dr. Thomas Christie, a member of the fire board, also tipped his hat to Felner, saying the 49-year veteran of the Fairfield Fire Department is "an outstanding individual, morally and every other way."
"The firemen themselves are pleasant to be around because they're so happy with their jobs and a lot of that is attributable to Dick Felner," Christie said.
Felner said he is "very pleased by the contract, and I'm looking forward to the next three years."
"Thanks to the commissioners and the town for all of their support," he said.
Felner, 70, the first president of the local firefighters' union and a former sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, joined the department in 1959 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1964. He was promoted to captain in 1970 and appointed chief in 1998.
Felner, the town's fifth paid fire chief, leads a department that has five fire stations, 94 firefighters and an annual budget of $11.3 million.
Susan Barrett, the Fire Commission chairwoman, said Felner is accessible and works well with Deputy Fire Chief Art Reid and Police Chief David Peck.
Barrett said there was a question of whether to extend Felner's contract for a year or three years. "The commission said three years. He's energized by his job and what he does," she said.
Assistant Fire Chief Doug Chavenello, president of the local firefighters' union, declined to comment on behalf of the union.
But Chavenello, speaking as an assistant chief who works with Felner every day, said, "I have a good working relationship with the chief and hope to continue to do so."
Flatto said the Fire Department functions "incredibly well" under Felner and that the chief has led the department "in a very positive and strong manner."