Bushnell A Finalist To Become Brewster Fire Chief

Norfolk Fire Chief Coleman Bushnell is one of six finalists to become fire chief in Brewster on Cape Cod.

The Brewster Board of Selectmen is scheduled to interview Bushnell on Thursday, June 24.

Bushnell said in an interview that while he continues to have a high regard for Norfolk he is worried about the town’s budget situation, particularly as it affects a lack of funding for training and callbacks of firefighters for emergency situations.

Bushnell said he met with Town Administrator Jack Hathaway and Selectman Jim Lehan to tell them about the Brewster opening before Brewster announced finalists publicly.

Bushnell said at this point the Norfolk Fire Department has no Plan B if the town takes a mid-fiscal year budget hit and has to lay off a firefighter, which would force the town to drop its Advanced Life Support paramedic service.

“I made the comment at the end that I didn’t want to be the guy to turn the lights off,” Bushnell said. “… The bottom line is that in Norfolk you need paramedics.”

Bushnell emphasized that he isn’t anxious to leave Norfolk.

“It’s not a situation where I’m looking to run. It’s more a situation where I’m trying to look at other things,” Bushnell said.

One possibility, he said, is that if he leaves the town could save his salary and still maintain paramedic service. The Fire Department could maintain paramedic service with 12 firefighters without the current chief, but can’t if one of the 12 firefighters currently under the chief is laid off.

Bushnell has been fire chief in Norfolk since 2004. He is highly regarded by Norfolk’s Board of Selectmen, who often praise him for his willingness to cover gaps in the Fire Department’s shift coverage himself, among other things.

“While I support Cole’s efforts to advance his career, I’d hate to lose him. He’s been a great part of the town’s management team and has given much more to Norfolk than we could expect,” said Selectman Rob Garrity, board chairman, in an email message.