PLYMOUTH, MA—A special act of the state legislature will allow the town's fire chief to stay on the job past his mandatory retirement date next spring.
The act, approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this month, allows Fire Chief Ed Bradley to work until his 67th birthday in April 2022.
Bradley, who has been chief since November 2007, will turn 65 on April 12. State law mandates police and fire chiefs retire at that age.
The town petitioned the legislature to extend Bradley's retirement with the approval of Town Meeting. State Sen. Vinny deMacedo and state Rep. Mathew Muratore, both Plymouth Republicans, co-sponsored the act at the town's request.
Town Manager Melissa Arrighi asked Bradley to work beyond his expected retirement to help facilitate a seamless transition to a new fire chief.
In a memo endorsing the move, Arrighi cited Bradley's "fire expertise, overall municipal skill set, knowledge of the town, operational experience and overall excellent administration" as well as his exemplary energy, enthusiasm and commitment level for the job.
Muratore said extending Bradley's tenure will benefit the town and will help the chief get a succession plan in place.
"We tried to get it through quickly. In a case like this, we wanted to give the town and the chief and the firefighters peace of mind that he's not going to go anywhere come next April," Muratore said.
Bradley said he was humbled by the unusual lengths the town has gone to keep him.
"Having a town do that for an employee, that's quite an act, a real honor," Bradley said.
Under the legislation, Bradley's retirement pension will still be based on his pay at age 65.
Bradley said he will be busy in the next year with the completion of a new fire station in North Plymouth and seeing the town through its 400th anniversary commemoration. He said he does not know if he will last until his 67th birthday, but the legislative act gives him and the department enough time to ensure that a new chief can rise from the ranks.
"It's been a pleasure working here," said Bradley, who started working as a firefighter in Manomet in 1974. "That old cliché is true—if you like what you do, it doesn't feel like you have to go to work. It's a great job, but it can't go on forever."
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