[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 52 (Friday, May 1, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4034-S4035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CHIEF HAROLD BRUNELLE OF THE HYANNIS FIRE DEPARTMENT

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, the Hyannis Fire Department recently 
honored Harold S. Brunelle of Hyannis by appointing him as Fire Chief. 
This honor is a well-deserved tribute to Chief Brunelle, his 26-year 
career with the Department, and his commitment to the community of 
Hyannis.
  Chief Brunelle was chosen after nation-wide competition for the 
position of Fire Chief, and he was selected unanimously for the 
position in a field of 34 applicants.
  Chief Brunelle joined the Hyannis Department in 1972 as a Junior 
Firefighter and rose through the ranks because of his great ability and 
dedication. His selection as Fire Chief demonstrates the town's 
confidence in Mr. Brunelle and their faith in his able service and 
leadership to the residents of the community.
  Hyannis and Massachusetts are proud of Harold Brunelle's appointment 
as Fire Chief. I congratulate him on this distinction, and I look 
forward to working closely with him in the years ahead.
  I ask unanimous consent that an article from the Barnstable Register 
on Chief Brunelle's selection be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

             [From the Barnstable Register, Mar. 19, 1998]

                 New Fire Chief a Familiar Hyannis Face

                            (By John Basile)

       Hyannis.--A 26-year commitment to the Hyannis Fire 
     Department has led Harold Brunelle to its top job.
       Mr. Brunelle was named fire chief late last week in a 
     unanimous vote of the Board of Fire Commissioners after a 
     nationwide search to replace Chief Paul Chisholm, who retired 
     after seven years on the job. He was selected from a field of 
     34 applicants.
       ``Just to be a firefighter is a privilege and an honor. To 
     be able to rise through the ranks and become chief is the 
     proudest thing I could experience,'' Chief Brunelle said 
     during an interview in his office at the Hyannis fire 
     station.
       Chief Brunelle has been serving as acting chief since last 
     November when Chief Chisholm stepped down. He started with 
     the Hyannis Fire Department in 1972 as a junior firefighter 
     and was appointed a permanent firefighter in 1974. He rose 
     through the ranks of senior firefighter, lieutenant and 
     captain before becoming deputy chief in 1990.
       Born and raised in Hyannis, Chief Brunelle still lives 
     there with his wife and three children, and said his 
     appointment sets an important precedent for the Hyannis Fire 
     Department.
       ``One of the real positive things that came out of the 
     appointment is that people from within the department 
     received the message that there is career advancement here,'' 
     Chief Brunelle said. Promotions within the department to fill 
     Chief Brunelle's former role as deputy chief and other 
     command positions are expected in the next few months and 
     will depend on the results of competitive exams.
       The appointment of the new fire chief followed a grueling 
     selection process involving a mathematical ranking formula, 
     scrutiny by a professional assessment panel and one-on-one 
     interviews with fire commissioners.
       ``Nobody can say he wasn't tested,'' said Richard 
     Gallagher, chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners. ``I'm 
     delighted for him because he's earned it, just as he earned 
     every rank in the department.'' Mr. Gallagher praised the new 
     chief's style.
       ``He will be a chief that can be approached by people,'' he 
     said. ``You'll get an honest answer out of Harold.''
       The new chief said he was supported through the application 
     process by former fire Chief Glen Clough, ``who basically 
     built the Hyannis Fire Department in his 30-plus years as 
     chief.'' He also thanked former Chief Richard Farrenkopf 
     ``for all of his time and expertise devoted to training.''
       Chief Brunelle, who has logged countless hours over the 
     years in schools and at fire safety events, said residential 
     fire prevention will continue to be a high priority for him.

[[Page S4035]]

       He hopes to reinvigorate a successful program of a few 
     years ago in which senior citizens were able to get low cost 
     smoke detectors through the fire department.
       Chief Brunelle has not yet negotiated a final contact with 
     the Board of Fire Commissioners, but is expected to earn 
     about $76,000 a year.

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