Non-union manager

"To move forward, we need a non-union manager in the fire department to work with myself and the firefighters' union," Greaney said.

Link to SJ article

I agree with Mr. Greaney's position. I was not aware that the previous chief was a member of the same union as the firefighters he leads. This would seem to me to be a conflict of interest.

I believe Mr. Greaney was referring to the Interim Chief who some thought was the heir-apparent to the position. Of course, Mr. Wolfe probably came from a union background, having been in a city department in Hartford. But when he came to Rumford, he would be considered management (non-union). However, you can take the boy out of the city, but you cannot take the city out of the boy. It must have been difficult to be in the position to limit the union in a department where the union was so dominent and powerful. I believe that Gary (whom I believe has no firefighting union history) will be more effective in managing the department. There will probably be some grievences, but that is to be expected.