By Ron Leir
HARRISON –
Fire Chief Tom Dolaghan has hung up his fire helmet.
Dolaghan, 55, retired Aug. 1 after more than three decades of service with the Harrison Fire Department, the last nine years as chief of the department.
He is being replaced by a civilian, part-time fire director – Harold Stahl – a former director and chief of the Rahway Fire Department. Stahl was appointed by Mayor Ray McDonough to the 20-hour-a-week post last Monday, pending Town Council ratification.
McDonough said the state Department of Community Affairs, which has been monitoring Harrison’s personnel and fiscal operations for several years, is allowing the town to install Stahl as a “temporary, 90-day” appointee while it advertises for a permanent candidate.
McDonough said he sees Stahl as the ideal person for the job. “He’s got nearly 40 years as a fireman, he’s our emergency management services coordinator, he’s very active in our community and he’s a Harrison resident.”
The job will pay $30,000 a year with no benefits, McDonough said.
To read the full story, see this week’s issue of The Observer.
