Norwell Fire Chief Andy Reardon says he will be retiring in July, after four decades with the Fire Department.
The Selectmen met to discuss a new Fire Chief, and unanimously voted to hire Deputy Chief Jeff Simpson as the new Chief.
Town Administrator Peter Morin told the board that Simpson was the best candidate for the job. Morin discussed his role hiring Fire Chiefs in Braintree and assisting Kingston with a hire.
“I can tell you with full confidence that Jeff Simpson is probably the most prepared individual for Chief that I have encountered amongst all those hiring processes,” said Morin. “I think he’s very well-prepared. I’m someone that’s usually in favor of a broad and careful hiring process. But I think that would be, quite frankly, a waste of time in this because he is as well-prepared and he knows this department. He has shown his dedication to this department.”
Simpson has been with the department since 1991, when he started as a call firefighter. He was promoted to Captain in 2001.
Reardon started as a call firefighter in 1976, and was appointed to Chief in 2007.
“I want to make sure that the taxpayers and the residents know that I truly, truly, truly appreciate the opportunity that they have given me in the last so many decades,” Reardon told WATD. “I cannot repay them enough. I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve given me.”
Reardon says he’s delighted to see the strides the department has made from a call department to a first-line operation. He had high praise for Simpson, saying he is a proven leader with a professional demeanor.
“I couldn’t be any happier. I think that Deputy Simpson has demonstrated leadership throughout a number of years,” said Reardon. “I know in the time I’ve been Chief, he’s been outstanding in terms of taking over from time to time — when I was hospitalized or other issues have occurred. Jeff has been a real help in terms of emergency management and just general fire department operations.”