Acting on the advice of a search committee appointed late last year, the selectmen this week named their first choice to fill the position of interim Harvard fire chief.
He is Donald Hurme, a veteran firefighter who served for more than 16 years as chief of the Townsend Fire Department before stepping down at the mandatory state retirement age of 65 in 2002. Hurme is currently a staff member and instructor at the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. In 1997 he was awarded a Massachusetts Medal of Honor for his attempt at great personal risk to rescue the victim of a fatal fire in Townsend. That same year he was also named a Massachusetts “Firefighter of the Year.”
The vote of the selectmen was unanimous, and Town Administrator Tim Bragan, who led the search for an interim leader, said Hurme could begin as soon as Monday next week, pending negotiation of a short-term contract. Bragan, who told the Press he had worked with Hurme before, later described the nominee as “calm” and highly professional, a firefighter who relished his work. Reached by phone, Hurme said he was looking forward to working with the town and helping plan for the future.
The position of chief of the Harvard Fire Department became vacant at the start of 2011 with the departure of Chief Robert Mignard, whose contract was not renewed by the town. Still to be decided is whether the position should be ultimately filled by a full-time or part-time chief, or perhaps merged with the leadership of a neighboring town. Bragan said this week that all options were being considered and that Hurme had been chosen in part because of his experience as a consultant to other town fire departments in the state. One of Hurme’s first tasks will be to lead a review of the current job description for the position of town fire chief, which has not been updated since 2001.
The recommendation to bring Hurme to Harvard was the work of a five-person committee led by Bragan. Other members included Bill Barton and Charles Nigzus of Harvard’s all-volunteer Fire Department, and selectmen Tim Clark and Ron Ricci. Three finalists were interviewed at length, but the committee quickly reached consensus that Hurme was the best choice, according to Nigzus, who appeared before the selectmen Tuesday night to confirm that the appointee had the support of Harvard’s firefighters.
Hurme is expected to serve three to six months, or until the town and current squad members can decide on a permanent solution and hire accordingly.
