Conley named new fire chief
Amerst Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to appoint Matthew Conley as the town’s Fire Chief.
Following the vote, Chairman Dwight Brew said, "Conley had been acting fire chief since May of 2014. Then, the following month, the Emergency Medical Services Director resigned and the Board asked Conley to accept the responsibilities of managing the EMS Department in addition to the Fire Department."
The Selectmen contracted with Municipal Recourses Inc. to run the recruitment process. Thirty-two candidates applied for the position.
MRI screened resumes, administered a written essay examination and conducted a day-long assessment process before giving the Selectmen the top six candidates. The Selectmen interviewed 4 of the 6 candidates and concluded that Conley’s qualifications most closely matched the needs of the department and the community.
The Board also utilized MRI to perform an analysis of the possible merger of the Fire and Emergency Services Departments. As a result, the Selectmen decided the two departments would merge July 1, 2015.
Conley will lead the efforts to combine Fire and EMS and will head up the newly formed organization.
"I look forward to the challenges of creating a new department and I’m confident that with the support of the staff of both departments, things will go smoothly." Conley said. "I am humbled by the support the Selectmen have given to me. I will strive to live up to expectations they have set for me."
Conley is a 29-year member of the Amherst Fire Department. He resides in Amherst with his wife, Lynda, and his daughter, Ashley.
For more information, contact Town Administrator Jim O’Mara at 673- 6041 or email jomara@ amherstnh.gov.