Larchmont Firefighters Choose Volunteer Over Paid Chief

by Judy Silberstein*

(April 5, 2007) When the Village of Larchmont’s volunteer firefighters convened as required under New York State Law on Thursday evening, April 5 they opted to elect one of their own rather than go along with the Village Board’s choice of a paid chief. According to Jim Sweeney, a former chief and the current treasurer, there were two names placed in nomination: Tom Broderick, a volunteer for more than 20 years and a deputy chief for 5, and Lt. Rich Heine, a former volunteer and now one of Larchmont’s career firefighters who Mayor Liz Feld had announced as the board’s choice to become the first paid chief of the Larchmont Fire Department. Tom Broderick won by an overwhelming majority.

Now the slate of nominees, that includes PJ Abrahamson as first deputy chief and Greg Hibbard as second deputy chief, will be forwarded to the Village Board, which has the option to accept or reject the firefighters’ choices.

Until this year, the election process has held few surprises: the volunteers nominated and the board accepted and appointed. The tradition of the department is that a volunteer serves as chief in command over all the firefighters, both volunteer and career staff.

However, on Monday, March 26, Mayor Feld appeared with Trustee Jim Millstein at the Larchmont Fire Council and proposed the hiring of a paid chief to overcome what she characterized as decades-long management issues and to help handle a position that she believes has “grown to be a full time job.” (See: Mayor, Fire Council Offer Competing Proposals for Change.)

Following a week of intense negotiation and conversation – in private and in the media, the mayor announced her intention to appoint Lt. Heine chief at an April 4 Board meeting that had previously been scheduled as a budget work session.

Meanwhile, it seemed that a number of volunteers might quit if the mayor went ahead with her plans. (See: Letters)

By Wednesday, it was unclear what would happen. Lt. Heine appeared at the board meeting dressed in a business suit, white shirt and tie. Career firefighters – on and off duty – mingled with police officers as they waited for the board to take action on the chief position.

But after taking care of other business, the mayor called for an adjournment to executive session. Board members returned following a lengthy recess, heard a brief address from the mayor and then quickly adjourned again.

Speaking uncharacteristically slowly and somberly, Mayor Feld announced, “We’re in the middle of a very delicate discussion with the volunteers.” In the interest of moving forward and in light of the volunteer elections to be held the following night, the board would wait until its next meeting, on April 11, to hear comments and take action on the issue of a paid chief.

“We are not going to have any public discussion – we all agree on this,” said Mayor Feld. “The interests of the residents are paramount,” she concluded.

Among the only commentators after the meeting was Larchmont resident Gerry Beitel, whose stepson, Daniel Heubel, is a volunteer firefighter. “Daniel is totally demoralized and he has been one of the most enthusiastic members,” said Mr. Heubel.

“We’ll wait and see what happens. I fully intend to go to next week’s meeting,” he said. “If somehow she changes her mind, there would still be an incredible amount of re-building necessary.”

On Thursday evening, the day after the Village Board meeting, Daniel Heubel was among four volunteers elected by the Fire Department convention to the position of lieutenant.

Reached by email later Thursday night, Mayor Feld declined to comment beyond a statement repeating the board's intention to address the management of the Fire Department at its April 11 meeting. " We will discuss it then,” she wrote.