WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — It took the Prudential Committee less than 14 minutes to unanimously vote to offer the post of fire chief to Onset's Jeffrey Dias. 

 

Dias, deputy chief of a department of full-time and volunteer firefighters, was the only nomination to succeed retiring Chief Craig Pedercini. The committee members pointed to Dias' dedication, experience and certifications as informing their decision.

 

"The credentials is what it came down to for me, where we want to see the department — from a year from now, in five years," said committee member Lindsay Neathawk. "I feel that he was just the right candidate to bring us forward with the new station."

 

He was interviewed last week along with finalists Spencer Chief Robert Parsons and Williamstown Lt. Ryan Housman; they were chosen from 24 applicants by a Personnel Committee established by the elected Prudential Committee members.

 

"I was leery at the outset about bringing somebody new to this area who perhaps doesn't have any knowledge of the area," Committee Chair David Moresi said. "But time and time again, I would hear about the amount of due diligence he was doing on this department.

 

Moresi said he and committee member Joseph Beverly heard how excited Dias was in learning about Williamstown's systems. Chief Timothy Clancy Jr. of Whitman described him to the committee as a "fire nerd ... He knows what works."

 

Committee member Alex Steel moved the nomination after "consideration and consultation among the community, the officers of the Fire Department, the firefighters and this committee."

 

Beverly said his involvement with the state Fire Academy and recruits and other initiatives he's worked on speaks to character. 

 

"I think he's got a lot of knowledge. He's a fire nerd. He's very passionate," he said. "I just think that he has an awful lot of experience, a lot of certifications, and he's a strong candidate."

 

Dias has two decades of firefighting experience and handles grants, record managements and scheduling as well the Fire Prevention Bureau in Onset. He's been an instructor with the Department of Fire Services for six years and is a certified instructor in ALERT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training). He spent nearly five years in the Army, separating with the rank of sergeant. 

 

He told the committee last week that his goal was to become a chief and that he had to look outside his area to do so. 

 

"My wife and I talked about retiring to the mountains," Dias said. "We looked at New Hampshire, but when I saw the position close, we came out here for a visit. We were here for about five minutes and she said, 'Call the Realtor.' I said, 'Whoa, I haven't applied for the job yet.'

 

"I love the small-town feel, love the mountains. I have a friend who is a chief in a Southern Berkshire town, and he said it was the best decision he ever made to come out here."

 

He said he was up to the challenges facing the district, including the new station and struggles of a volunteer force. 

 

"If you gaze at the strategic plan I gave you, there are a couple of things in there that mention right away the fostering of relationships," Dias said. "I envision fostering a family environment, getting the family back in the fire station. You have to foster an environment where they want to be there and want to be involved and want to continue to learn.

 

"I place a lot of importance on the internal customer as well as the external customer."

 

The committee members said they were pleased to have had three exceptional finalists. 

 

"It does come down to a degree of certifications, to experience and moving forward," said Steel. "I think we have a good reason to be confident in Deputy Chief Dias' future performance and his background. ...

 

"That's not to say that this will be an easy transition. It'll be a challenging transition to go from a small district, to a large district with a lot of different responsibilities, and so that will require the support and the guidance of a lot of steady hands and a lot of experience, specifically in this room."

 

John Notsely, who's served 62 years on the Prudential Committee, was unable to attend but Moresi said he'd spoken to him about his choice. 

 

"I can say he does support this candidate, so he did want that to be known," said Moresi. 

 

The committee's next meeting is March 26 but Moresi anticipated an executive session prior to that to discuss Dias' contract, should he accept.

 

The deputy chief had seemed clear last week on his affinity for Williamstown.

 

"It's a very exciting prospect," Dias said. "I look forward to the challenge if you select me. At the risk of sounding cocky, I can say if you pick me, you won't be sorry. I won't let you down."