Last week's announcement that Steven Locke will be the next Burlington Fire Chief has municipal officials in Hartford scrambling. Locke has been fire chief in Hartford since 2008 and he has also been serving as the Interim Town Manager.On Thursday, Hartford announced that Locke's last day on the job will be Jan. 29.
"Chief Locke has worked within the fire department for 23 years; in that time, he has proven himself to be a valuable asset to the area's fire and EMS delivery," the announcement stated. "The Chief’s passion for the fire service is obvious in the way he has managed the department. His consistent and unbridled leadership, hard work, and motivation have helped bring about positive changes to both the fire department and the community as a whole."
"The position of fire chief in Burlington is a dream job for Steve, and it’s an opportunity that doesn’t come along very often," the announcement continued. "We’re very sorry to be losing his leadership and skill here in Hartford, but we wish him all the best as he continues forward in his career. The [select] board thanks Steve wholeheartedly for his many years of service to our town, most especially for his calm leadership as interim manager these past few months."
Hartford officials say the Town Manager Search Committee is reviewing applications for a permanent Town Manager this week, in coordination with the Select Board and the town’s consultant.
The announcement noted, "If the ideal candidate has not been identified by the end of January when Chief Locke departs, the board will make other interim arrangements as necessary."