Selectmen also approved hiring Daedalus Projects Inc.of Boston as the owner's project manager for the new Police Station-Town Office Building on downtown Main Street
MONSON - The four finalists for the fire chief's position were announced at Tuesday's selectmen's meeting, and the board will conduct interviews at its next meeting on Oct. 9.
Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers said the finalists are: Brian Harris, Monson Fire Department's deputy fire chief; Belchertown Fire Department Captain Craig Bodamer; Laurent McDonald, certification program manager with the National Fire Protection Association; and Fred Mitchell, a deputy fire chief in Cumberland, R.I.
The pay range for the position is $56,365 to $68,492.
Neggers explained that she and Interim Fire Chief Marshall L. Harris, no relation to Brian Harris, interviewed 12 of the 30 people who applied for the position.
She said they eliminated far-flung applicants from places such as Alaska and Idaho.
"I think it's important that whoever we hire is relatively close," Smith said.
Selectmen asked if the Rhode Island candidate would be willing to relocate, and Neggers replied yes. Neggers thanked Marshall Harris for assisting with the fire chief interviews. He stepped in after George L. Robichaud resigned from the fire chief job July 1.
Selectmen also approved extending Harris' interim fire chief contract through Dec. 31. Harris retired four years ago; Robichaud was his replacement.
In other business, selectmen approved hiring Daedalus Projects Inc.of Boston as the owner's project manager for the new Police Station-Town Office Building on downtown Main Street. A total of $200,000 has been allocated for this position, which takes the project from start to finish and oversees each stage of design, bidding and construction.
The project is expected to be completed in summer 2014. It will be built on the site of the current Town Hall-Police Station, which was damaged by the 2011 tornado and had to be condemned.