West Shore fire chief retires

09/12/2008

By Abbe Smith , Special to the News

WEST HAVEN - After more than three decades with the West Shore Fire Department, Chief Harold "Hal" Burns has decided to retire after two years in the top spot.

Burns has been on medical leave for about a year because of heart problems and said his health is the reason he is choosing to step down. His retirement became effective Sept. 1.

Reached Wednesday at home, Burns said he had a great career and is very grateful to the citizens of the West Shore, all of the city's firefighters and all the people who have helped him over the years.

In his retirement letter to the Fire Commission, Burns recounts some of his memories over the 31 years he served and says being named chief in 2006 was one of the "proudest moments of my life."

"I will truly miss the camaraderie of working with the firefighters and the experience of working on a daily basis with the exceptional firefighters who serve the residents of West Haven," he wrote.

Fire officials across the city expressed sadness at Burns' departure and wished him well.

"He is going to be greatly missed in the West Shore Fire Department because his heart was in it," said Allingtown Fire Chief Peter Massaro, who called Burns a friend.

"He was a good chief," Massaro added.

West Haven Fire Department Chief James P. O'Brien echoed Massaro's praise of Burns.

"He always had a tremendous passion and love for the fire service and I think I got to know him over the last few years very closely. We are going to certainly miss him," he said.

Hired to the department in August 1977, Burns earned a salary of about $95,600 as chief and collected the same amount while on medical leave. He will receive a yearly pension of $86,700.

Burns' decision to step down this month makes West Shore the third fire department in West Haven in less than a year seeking to hire a new chief.

Massaro was hired in April to replace Allingtown Chief Victor J. Sampietro, and O'Brien took over the West Haven Fire Department in December, after the retirements of longtime Chief William S. "Wiggy" Johnson Jr. in February 2007 and Chief William L. Abbott, who served the Center District for seven months.

According to the West Shore department's home-rule ordinance, the Fire Commission must first consider in-house candidates for the top job and is accepting [illegible] from eligible employees.

Acting Chief David Collins said he and the department are sad to see Burns go.

"It is unfortunate that his work was unfinished and cut short by illness," Collins said.

The hallmark of Burns' tenure, according to Collins, was his work in getting the district to switch over to the state-run pension plan called the Municipal Employee Retirement Fund.

Collins said the new plan, under which seven firefighters already have been hired, will save the district "a lot of money in the future."

Collins also praised Burns' dedication to both firefighters and taxpayers. West Shore Fire Commissioner Robert Pimer said the chief will be sorely missed.

Commission Chairman John Biancur, who thanked Burns for his years of service, said Burns is the fifth retirement since July 1 and noted that two of the retirements were not planned, which has put a burden on the department's finances.

West Shore taxpayers this year approved a budget with no tax increase, in defiance of warnings from Collins and other fire officials that the department will be in dire financial straits as a result. According to Biancur, the district has enough money to cover costs right now, but "if anybody else retires, then that would probably send us into the red or change our projections."

He added: "I'm hopeful that we won't have any more retirements this year."