Schleicher Sworn in as Fire Chief

Swearing in ceremony took place Thursday, Oct. 6.

Norton Public Library was a full house Thursday, Oct. 6 as Norton Fire Chief Paul Schleicher was sworn in by Town Clerk Danielle Sicard.  “I want to thank the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen and the department for awarding me this position,” Schleicher said. “I certainly will not let you down.”  In Schleicher’s new position, he will be looking for a deputy chief to help with responsibilities. Another goal of his is to bring more technology to the fire department and keep an open line of communication open with town residents. Ever since his first official day as fire chief when Tropical Storm Irene came to town, Schleicher has embraced social media as a way of doing so.  After thanking his friends, family and town officials for …

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AN INSIDE LOOK

New Fire Chief is an Excellent Choice

Despite a flawed search process, Norton's new Chief was a wise pick.

While I was definitely not a fan of the sham search process Norton employed in selecting a new fire chief, I am most definitely a fan of the choice himself. Norton native Paul Schleicher is the new chief, and it is a promotion richly deserved. Norton’s deputy chief for the last seven years, Schleicher was the obvious pick to head the department he has served for some 37 years. He has literally grown up in the department, and watched it grow with him. When the swearing-in ceremony is held for the new chief, selectmen had better make sure they hold it in big room.  If just Paul’s family members attend, the crowd could be bigger than some of Norton’s Town Meetings.  One of the largest and most respected families in town, the Schleichers are …

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AN INSIDE LOOK

A Tale of Two Fire Chief Searches

One town limits its search, and one town doesn't.

The towns of Norton and Sharon are both currently conducting searches for a new fire chief. They are at different stages of their processes, but that is hardly the only difference. In Sharon, they are at the end of their second search this year. They received almost 100 applications and have narrowed their list down to three finalists. Each is currently a fire chief in another municipality, including two from Massachusetts. Each has considerable experience running a fire department. In Norton, selectmen are awaiting the results of a Civil Service exam to let them know if there will have any choice at all over who will be the next chief. In Norton, the town manager makes the appointment.  Deputy Chief Paul Schleicher and one other …

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Fire Chief Position Filled for Now

Deputy Fire Chief Paul Schleicher appointed to the post.

Selectmen approved a provisional Fire Chief Thursday, to fill in after current Chief Richard Gomes retires at the end of July. Deputy Fire Chief Paul Schleicher was appointed to the post, and will take over the helm on July 28. The board acted immediately on receiving the nomination from Gomes, so there would be no vacancy in that important position while a permanent replacement is secured. Board members and Town Manager Michael Yunits expressed extreme frustration that they had not yet received the results from the March civil service exam. Two people took the exam, one of them Schleicher and the other unknown, and when the scores are finally received, the board will decide whether to promote the new Chief from within the department or …

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Search Plan for New Fire Chief in the Works

Selectmen to decide if search will be extended outside Norton Fire Department.

With the current Norton Fire Chief Richard Gomes set to retire July 28, the search is on for his replacement. While Town Manager Michael Yunits will select the next chief, selectmen choose who they will accept applications from. During the meeting last night, selectmen discussed testing within Norton Fire Department again, or extending their reach to the outside. While selectmen chairman Bradford Bramwell wants to give current Norton firefighters the opportunity to be promoted, other members of the board disagreed.  “I think we have very good candidates, but why limit ourselves?” asked selectman Timothy R. Giblin.  Selectmen Robert Kimball agreed, saying “I think we need to get the best for our buck. I prefer an open candidate list.”  …

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AN INSIDE LOOK

Hiring a Fire Chief is a Rare Norton Event

Civil Service will limit search to in-house candidates.

It is a rare thing indeed when Norton hires a fire chief. But with the retirement of Chief Richard Gomes coming up this year, the town will be going through the long and somewhat torturous process of appointing a new Civil Service head of the department.  Of course, there are many things that must happen before a new chief is chosen. Selectmen must appoint a new Town Manager who will be responsible for the fire department hiring. There will be a Civil Service test, an interview process and then a new chief will take over for just the second time in the last 40 years. Norton is fortunate to have several excellent candidates to replace Gomes currently within the department, as the outgoing chief noted when he announced his retirement. And …

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Chief Gomes To Retire in 2011

Norton Fire Chief Richard Gomes gave his resignation last night at the selectmen meeting.

More change at the top is in store for Norton, as Fire Chief Richard Gomes announces his resignation and upcoming retirement some time in 2011. The 40-year veteran of the fire department informed Acting Town Manager James Purcell this week that he intended to retire, saying he was giving advanced notice to the town so that the department and the emergency management division can deal with the transition in an orderly way. Purcell's resignation as Town Manager was official on Jan. 24, but selectmen appointed him Acting Town Manager at this week's meeting. He will stay at the helm for several days a week until the board selects a replacement and the person arrives and is settled into his new post. Gomes said in a letter, read to the board by…

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PATCH FACTS

Norton Patch's Top 10 Stories Of 2010

It took a few days, but Norton Patch has rounded up the most popular stories of 2010 chosen by you.

In about a month and a half since Norton Patch launched, there has been plenty of news in town. Looking back at the abbreviated year, Patch compiled the top stories of 2010. Rather than picking which news events were the most important or had the most impact, however, we allowed the readers to do the picking for us. The following stories were the most read stories, according to the page views tracked at Patch headquarters: 10.) Norton Girl To Show Off Flair For Writing During First Night- Dec. 31 As soon as First Night chairman Brian Coughlin spoke to Lily Holloway's fourth grade class about Norton Has Talent, the 9 year old knew she wanted to be involved. 9.) Norton Patch VIP Of The Week: Richard Gomes- Dec. 18 As a veteran of …

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Chief May Roll Them, But They Are Our Dice

Letter criticizing fire chief misses the point.

In a recent letter to a local newspaper, resident Andy Burgess (no stranger to professional firefighting) took Norton Fire Chief Richard Gomes to task for his recent decision to temporarily close the Chartley Fire Station due to lack of funding.  Burgess recounted some occurrences during the time he claims the station was closed due to a manpower shortage caused by an on-the-job injury to a firefighter.  He referred to a quote from Chief Gomes that said "It's a crap shoot, and I get to roll the dice."  Burgess noted he would not make plans to go to Foxwoods with the Chief anytime soon. The son of Norton's former Fire Chief, Burgess knows the heavy responsibilities that are heaped upon our public safety leaders. As a longtime town resident…

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