PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
New Nahant Fire Chief Michael Feinberg is sworn in by Town Clerk Peggy Barile at Nahant Town Hall Thursday as Feinberg’s wife Christina looks on.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
NAHANT — The Board of Selectmen held a swearing-in ceremony for new Fire Chief Michael Feinberg at Town Hall Thursday night.
Sen. Thomas McGee, Rep. Brendan Crighton and Carolyn Kirk, representing Gov. Charlie Baker, also attended the meeting to present the town with a Seaport Economic Council grant.
Feinberg, who most recently served as fire captain of the Lynnfield Fire Department, was sworn-in by Town Clerk Peggy Barile.
Feinberg was recommended by Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren to the Board of Selectmen at a meeting earlier this year. Board members then voted to proceed and send Feinberg a hire letter.
“(Feinberg) was chosen from a candidate list of 50 people,” said Chelgren. “He was our first-ranking (candidate). We ranked them by resume.
“He has a master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degree in fire science and over 20 years of experience. We look forward to him being our fire chief.”
“I went through the whole interview process and you surely stood out among all (of the candidates),” said Richard Lombard, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, of Feinberg. “I’m so proud of you and I’m so happy that you will receive the chief spot. Congratulations.”
Feinberg served with the Lynnfield Fire Department for the past 16 years. Prior to that, he spent 30 years as an EMT and paramedic, he said.
“I did a brief period of four-and-a-half years with the Amesbury Fire Department as a firefighter, then the total of 16 years with Lynnfield, and now I’m moving on to Nahant,” Feinberg said.
Members of the Nahant Fire Department, the police department, town government and several members of the fire departments of surrounding towns attended Thursday’s ceremony to see Feinberg sworn in.
“I want to thank the chiefs of the surrounding communities (who are here),” said Lombard. “When the town of Nahant needs help — Lynn, Swampscott, Marblehead, Lynnfield, Reading — the mutual aid that you (all) send to us, it’s an unbelievable response.
“I’m glad you’re here. Don’t be a stranger to the town of Nahant, and I appreciate you very much for coming out tonight for Mike.”
“I’d like to thank Mike and his family for being here tonight,” said Selectman Enzo Barile. “It’s really impressive to see all the chiefs here from surrounding communities (and) all the cops here. We came together as a team to welcome you.
“I’m so happy that we have you.”
Town administrators also thanked McGee, Crighton and Baker’s office for their hard work in helping the town receive a $410,000 Seaport Economic Grant.
The grant will benefit a project to repair the town’s seawall, surrounding walls and pier.
“This is great news for our approximately 45 to 50 lobstermen,” Lombard said. “It’s in dire need of repair down there.
The total project cost is estimated to be about $645,000, he said.
“It’s a pleasure to be here on behalf of Gov. Baker and the lieutenant governor,” Kirk said. “When this project came forward, a very compelling case was made by the town. The case has to be made that there’s an economic benefit.”
Kirk said the administration saw the impact the grant could make for the local lobstermen.
“It’s very hard for those guys to land their lobsters here,” she said. “We felt very good about the award (being given to Nahant). It was a unanimous vote among the council.”
“Those dollars that we allocate really could make a difference in communities like Nahant,” McGee said. “To make sure the wall is repaired means so much to the town and the lobstermen that work here.”
McGee, Crighton and Gov. Baker’s office were each presented with a certificate of appreciation from the town.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.