Essex Selectmen Advance Full-Time Fire Chief Search
The Essex Board of Selectmen advanced the search for the town's first full-time fire chief and reviewed a $95,351,985 cost estimate for the Essex Elementary School replacement project.
Board of Selectmen · Meeting of October 5, 2026
ESSEX — The Essex Board of Selectmen advanced the search for the town's first full-time fire chief and reviewed a $95,351,985 cost estimate for the Essex Elementary School replacement project. Selectmen unanimously appointed Selectman Dexter Lee-Viator to a preliminary screening committee after giving a first reading to the chief's draft job description, with a vote targeted for the board's October 19 meeting. Town Administrator Brendan reported the Massachusetts School Building Authority will reimburse $20,405,325 of the school project, leaving Essex's share at $24,998,728 under its cost-sharing agreement with Manchester.
Selectman Lee-Viator said he'd serve on the search committee despite the workload, saying "it's going to be tough for me to attend them all." The board also approved a change of manager at Marshview Farm General Store, naming Nelson DeMello pending a CORI check, signed off on $396,283.91 in weekly warrants, and appointed probationary firefighters Ryan Crompton and Cory Goodwin through June 30, 2027.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,021 words
Source: the Board of Selectmen meeting of October 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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