Norwood Selectmen Interview Finalists for Fire Chief Post, Seeking $700 to Fly in California Candidate-October 26, 1978

Board of Selectmen Interview Out-of-Town Candidates for $28,000-a-Year Post

The Board of Selectmen conducted interviews with three out-of-town candidates for Norwood fire chief last night, narrowing down the field of seven finalists. After meeting with applicants from New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, selectmen voted unanimously to invite Thomas J. Barry Jr.—currently leading a department in Martinez, California—to fly in for an interview next Wednesday.

To facilitate Barry’s cross-country trip, the board agreed to request a $700 reserve fund transfer from the Finance Commission to defray travel expenses. “I do feel if the board wants to interview Barry we should reimburse him in some way,” said Selectman Mary J. Fox, supporting a motion introduced by acting Chairman Joseph F. Curran.

Acting Chairman Curran advised all candidates that while the fire chief ultimately answers to the selectmen, whoever assumes the $28,000-a-year position will be granted full authority to manage and direct the department as they see fit.

Overview of Interviewed Candidates

• Dennis J. Jankowski (Niagara Falls, N.Y.): A 52-year-old captain with 27 years of firefighting experience, Jankowski supervises seven officers and 32 firefighters in an 85,000-population city operating six fire stations. Earning an $18,000 salary plus overtime, Jankowski noted his department successfully eliminated 90 percent of false alarms by removing street fire alarm boxes. Following a tour of the local station, he suggested adding a dedicated training officer and a firefighter for fire prevention.
• Joseph F. Sullivan (Salem, Mass.): Serving as deputy chief in Salem for seven years, the 48-year-old administrator oversees a department with 150 firefighters and five stations on a $20,000 salary. Holding an associate degree in fire science from North Shore Community College and serving as an instructor at the Massachusetts Fire Academy, Sullivan expressed surprise at Norwood’s leaner staffing. “I am amazed that Norwood can function with only 58 people in the fire department and I wonder how they handle any fire with 13 men,” he remarked.
• Frank M. Sylvester (Pawtucket, R.I.): A 44-year-old lieutenant with 12 years of experience, Sylvester holds an associate degree in fire science, a bachelor’s degree in health service administration, and is pursuing a master’s degree. Representing a 77,000-resident city with 147 firefighters, Sylvester emphasized his background in rescue services, equipment specification writing, and municipal budget preparation, arguing that Norwood’s industrial growth demands a modern, efficient department.

Finalist Thomas J. Barry Jr. Expected from California

The final candidate to be interviewed, Thomas J. Barry Jr. of Martinez, California, is considered a strong contender based on his impressive resume. Barry previously served as fire chief in Acton, Massachusetts, from 1967 to 1975, and later led the fire department in El Cerrito, California. Now 44, Barry indicated in his application that he and his family are eager to return to New England, praising the Norwood board for conducting an open, nationwide search for the leadership post.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger