Quincy: Do-over for fire chief selection process

They’re going to do it again.

After the state said the city of Quincy botched the first attempt, the same two candidates for fire chief are about to go through the hiring process a second time.

On Wednesday and Thursday an independent panel of chiefs from Virginia, Texas and New York will interview current Acting Chief Joseph Barron and Deputy Chief Gary Smyth.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the panel will hold a public hearing so residents can voice their expectations for the new fire chief.

The hearing will take place the park department community room at 1 Merrymount Parkway.

Last fall, the Civil Service Commission ordered Mayor Thomas Koch to vacate the chief position and get an independent group to re-do the hiring process.

The commission said Koch didn’t fairly compare the candidates’ qualifications.

The Quincy mayor said he picked Barron because had more time in as a firefighter and deputy chief and had more experience with labor relations.

A spokesman says Koch will hire the candidate the panel recommends.

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