By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — After extensive research and thorough in-house interview process, city councilors agreed Monday to abandon efforts to restructure the police and fire departments under one emergency service manager and name a permanent replacement for Fire Chief Roy Woods, who resigned in late January.
The decision to stay with the current format was recommended by Caribou City Manager Steve Buck, following serious discussion of the pros and cons of creating a public safety officer position to oversee all facets of the city’s police, fire and emergency medical services operations.
Manager Buck thanked the council for accepting his recommendation stating he would meet with the candidate selected by the interview team first thing Tuesday morning, offering him the interim position of Caribou Fire Chief.
On Tuesday, March 13, Buck announced that firefighter/paramedic Scott Susi, a 7-year member of the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department had accepted the position. “Scott Susi is the candidate of choice,” stated Buck, “he has accepted and I will appoint him as fire chief on April 11, for a six-month probationary period. The department will also hire a full-time firefighter/paramedic (also to a six-month probationary period) to replace Scott’s previous position. “If everything works out — and I’m sure it will — his appointment will become permanent,” Buck added.
“I am excited to have Scott on board,” said Buck. “He has incredible knowledge regarding the EMS side, which has become an increasingly big piece of what they do in that department. I also know he has the full support of the other members of the Caribou Fire/Ambulance Department — and that is a very important factor.”
“I want to congratulate Scott. This was a long process but a good one. I look forward to working with him and I anticipate a long productive career for him,” said Chief Gahagan. “This was a position that my father held so when I went into this interview process, I was looking for the betterment not only of the department but for the community as well and I could see that in Scott. I look forward to working with him as a department head.”
Firefighter/paramedic Susi, had only just completed his last shift when notified by the city manager yesterday morning. “When Steve called I thanked him for this opportunity — I am very honored,” Susi stated. “They are a really good, professional bunch of guys in our department and I am very excited about this opportunity.”
During the Monday night city council meeting, prior to the council showing their support to Buck’s proposal, CFD Captains Steve Sperry and Mike McCarthy and Police Chief Michael Gahagan addressed the panel regarding the issue of fire chief verses a public safety officer.
“Fire fighting is a very dangerous job,” stated Capt. McCarthy, a veteran firefighter/paramedic. “We need a chief — an expert. We need someone who knows what this job is all about. I personally just feel that we need a fire chief — five days a week, 40 hours.”
“On April 29 of this year, I will have 39 years at the Caribou Fire/Ambulance Department,” stated Capt. Sperry, “and I have never worked without a fire chief. “
“I recommend that we move forward in appointing a fire chief,” CPD Chief Gahagan, who would have been the most likely candidate to become the public safety officer (position requires law enforcement background). “I was fortunate to have some experience as a firefighter at the CFD, but things have certainly changed.”
“Caribou has always been unique in that the different departments work hand-in-hand, none so obvious as that of the fire and police departments — and I am positive that this will continue,” said Buck.
