Fire Chief resigning

Above: Chief Achilles announced that he will be leaving by early February. (image from Facebook post)

Southborough’s Fire Chief, Steven Achilles, will be moving south this winter. According to his announcement, after 38 years working in fire and emergency services (4½ of those in Southborough), he’ll be taking an administrative position.

This morning, responding to a message from me about a rumor, Chief Achilles confirmed that he will be leaving. He wrote:

On Thursday December 12 I notified members of our department along with the Select Board and the Town Administrator that I am resigning from my position of Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director no later than February 7, 2024.

This past September I was contacted by a friend and colleague about an employment opportunity with Universal Destinations and Experiences of Orlando. As this was a unique opportunity that could also accelerate my wife and I’s plan to relocate to a home we have in Florida, I submitted a letter of interest and resume. In late October and again in early November I was invited to participate in their interview and employment process. I was extended and subsequently accepted a conditional offer for the position of Fire Protection Manager at their new park known as Epic in Florida this past Wednesday. This decision was challenging as I am extremely happy with the current and future direction of the department along with my position as chief.

Over the next few weeks, I will work with town leadership on a transition plan including my recommendations on the immediate and future leadership needs of the department.

My departure in February will also conclude a 38-year career in fire and emergency services; the last 4 and a half years here in Southborough. It has been and continues to be a privilege to serve the department and community.

Soon after the email was sent, the SFD posted a condensed version of his announcement to the public.

The Select Board has yet to post a special meeting to discuss the hiring/search process for a new chief. Their next regularly scheduled meeting is December 19th.

Achilles has served as Southborough’s chief since April of 2019. He relocated from Portsmouth, NH to take the job. At the time, it appeared that the Board of Selectmen believed they were hiring a veteran with experience and expertise to lead and improve the department before passing the torch.

The search to hire a chief took six months after former Chief Joseph Mauro announced his retirement in September 2018. As part of the process, the Town sought internal feedback from the department. The search committee informed the Board of Selectmen that personnel Selectmen preferred the next chief to be an outside hire.

The intimation was that personnel had been too focused on specific areas of responsibility to be prepared to oversee the entire department. The board’s hope was that wouldn’t be the case by the time the next chief moved on from the position.

At that time and in Achilles’ interview the Select Board discussed the need for the next chief to foster growth, with an employee development and succession plan. Achilles publicly embraced the concept.

In the summer of 2022, Ryan Newell was promoted from Lt. (and interim Chief) to Police Chief after the Town conducted an internal only search that took only 3 months. A search for a new DPW chief that began after the former superintendent resigned last October took significantly longer. The new DPW Superintendent, William Cundiff, didn’t start his job until late July.