New Gomes in Fire Department Ranks

Andrew Gomes, son of retired fire chief Richard Gomes, sworn in.

Area Fire Officials Gather for NFD Chief's Last Day [VIDEO]

Norton Fire Chief Richard Gomes readies for retirement.

As the procession of area fire officials drew closer to Norton Fire Department, Chief Richard Gomes prepared to say goodbye to the many people who supported him throughout his career.  After 40 years working in the department, one year on call and 39 in a full-time position, Gomes is retiring.  “Rick brought a lot of professionalism to fire service,” said Rehoboth Fire Chief Robert Pray. “He’s a leader in mutual aid.”  While Gomes and his wife Theresa plan on spending the winter in Florida, it won’t be all rest and relaxation during his retirement. Gomes plans on continuing his position evaluating fire officials for promotions and teaching at Bristol Community College.  “It’s definitely the right time for my family and I. We planned this …

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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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Members of Norton Fire Department Awarded for Service

Norton fire chief Richard Gomes among recipients.

Fire chief Richard Gomes and selectmen's chairman Robert Kimball presented eight awards at Thursday's selectmen's meeting, honoring those who have achieved 20 years of service or more in the department. The awards are given out every four or five years, said Gomes, and are designated by the state Fire Service Commission. This year's recipients were call firefighter and selectman Robert Salvo and captain Albert Briand for over 20 years on the force, call captain Edward W. Murray for 35 years, deputy chief Paul J. Schleicher for 35 years, firefighter John F. Morrissey for 40 years and fire chief Richard Gomes himself for over 40 years as a career firefighter. Also presented with the honor were department Secretary Judith A. McCarron for 28 …

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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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Norton Patch VIP Of The Week: Richard Gomes

Fire chief proud to be part of small fraternity, spreads praise for department's success around.

As a veteran of almost 40 years with his hometown department, you'd think Norton Fire Chief Richard Gomes would have been a little bit squeamish at some point about the idea of running into a burning building to save the lives of people who were high-tailing it the other way. But that's just not the case for Gomes, 56, the town's third fire chief ever. Maybe that's because Gomes faced real danger in his late teens and early 20s as part of a local rock and blues band that played at clubs that weren't exactly sold out. "You'd see a skirmish in front of you or maybe have to push somebody off of you and keep on playing," he said with a laugh, thinking about his long-gone days as a performer. These days, Gomes is happy to lead a 30-person …

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