Search begins for new fire marshal

SALISBURY - With the retirement of Pat Kowtko late last year, the town of Salisbury is now looking for a new fire marshal. But finding a replacement won't be easy.

"We are exploring for ourselves how that position functions, what it entails and what other towns do," First Selectman Curtis Rand said as he announced the vacancy at the Feb. 6 Board of Selectmen meeting.

Kowtko, an ex-state police trooper who was appointed during the administration of former First Selectman Bob Smithwick, had been fire marshal for almost 10 years before retiring in December and moving to North Carolina.

He worked about 30 hours a week and made $33,500. In addition, he served as the town's safety officer and its Freedom of Information law officer. In Kowtko's absence, Mike Fitting, Kowtko's deputy and the town's building inspector, is acting fire marshal.

"Pat had so many responsibilities," Rand added. "It will be a difficult position to replace."

Rand explained that the town has not yet advertised for the position, as the structure of the new post has not been determined.

He sent out an e-mail to the Western Connecticut Fire Marshals' Association alerting its members to the opening in Salisbury and only received two messages of interest.

Rand said he has met with representatives of the state fire marshal's office, who told him the job requires about 90 hours of training and many more hours of continuing education. Additionally, state regulations stipulate that the job amounts to a "permanent appointment" - or one that is not subject to reappointment every year.

The town could post the opening for a certified fire marshal or find someone to train. But the latter could cost thousands of dollars with no guarantee that the new hire will do a good job. The other possibility is to hire an additional deputy and have him or her split the inspection duties with Fitting.

Rand said internal discussions will continue but he was not sure when the town would advertise the opening. He will also continue to consult with other towns in the state of comparable size.

According to the town's Web site, Kowtko's responsibilities include "fire and burn investigations, including vehicle and structure fires, all explosions and any burns covering more than 10 percent of the body's surface. Excepting one and two family dwellings, he inspects new and used structures for egress, smoke detectors and items that might prevent the structure from being up to code."

"It's quite a complex job," Rand said.