By Richard Weizel, STAFF WRITER
Updated: 01/23/2009 10:57:45 PM EST
Miron names interim fire chief - Topix
STRATFORD -- An interim replacement has been named for the town's embattled fire chief.
James J. Cavanaugh, formerly the fire chief in Waterbury, has been appointed by Mayor James R. Miron Jr.to fill in for Fire Chief John J. Cybart.
Cybart, who faces possible termination from the job for his involvement in a tainted bidding process for a new firetruck, is out on indefinite sick leave and has filed for disability pension. The town's Pension Board is expected to take up Cybart's pension application at its next meeting Monday at 6 p.m. in Town Hall.
Miron, serving as hearing officer at the chief's termination hearing Jan. 8, agreed to a request by his lawyer for a second continuance of that hearing, now set for 9 a.m. Feb. 2 in Town Hall's Council Chambers.
Robert A. Richardson, representing Cybart, a 14-year veteran of the department, asked Miron to continue the hearing for time to "review a wide range of documents" pertaining to the firetruck bidding process, as well as Cybart's personnel file. Town Attorney Richard Buturla provided Richardson with all the requested documents at the session.
Cybart, 54, who has been chief nearly two years, faces possible loss of his job after town officials accused him in a Dec. 1 memo of displaying a "gross lack of judgment" by appointing Lt. Robert Spiegel to the bid review committee, knowing Spiegel had a "direct conflict of interest" as an employee of New England Fire Equipment Corp. of North Haven, the company selected.
The chief's appointees to the bid-selection committee are accused of trying to change specifications for the firetruck they estimated would cost $450,000 to ensure New England Fire Equipment would be awarded the contract, even though with a $507,000 bid, it was not the low bidder.
Cavanaugh, whose appointment was effective Friday, will be paid a salary of $97,000.
"Jim Cavanaugh brings almost 30 years of experience to the town of Stratford, with the majority of his time in Waterbury's fire department on the line as a firefighter and fire officer and serving as chief," Miron said in announcing the appointment Friday. "His education, training and three decades of experience in fire service will serve both the citizens of Stratford and its firefighters well during this transition time while we conduct a nationwide search."
Cavanaugh joined the Waterbury Fire Department in July 1972 after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1981, captain in 1983, battalion chief in 1987 and deputy chief in 1995. He retired in April 1999 as deputy chief. In July 2003, Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura asked Cavanaugh to return to Waterbury's department to serve as chief, which he did until February 2005.