Canton Select Board unanimously votes to hire Jamie Meyer as fire chief pending contract

The Canton Select Board voted unanimously May 19 to hire Jamie Meyer as the town's next fire chief, pending a contractual agreement with the human resources director and the town administrator.

Meyer, a 24-year veteran of the Canton Fire Department, told the board he has served as EMS coordinator, training and safety officer and most recently as a captain. "I've been here for 24 years. I love the Canton Fire Department. It's a passion of mine," Meyer said during a panel interview in Memorial Hall. He emphasized data-driven staffing assessments, community engagement and a focus on professional development and training.

The board interviewed two finalists: Meyer and Deputy Chief Jeff Ricker of Sharon. Ricker outlined his 26 years in the fire service, academic credentials and experience as deputy chief of training and operations in Sharon, saying a chief should be "an overall senior adviser" at emergency scenes and should provide mentoring and support to company officers.

Board members praised both candidates, citing their qualifications and attention to data. Select Board member Mike Loughran said both were "data driven," and several members noted both candidates' strong commitment to mental-health response and departmental training. Multiple members said Meyer's institutional knowledge of Canton gave him an edge in the decision.

John McCourt made the motion to hire Meyer "pending a contractual agreement with the human resource director and the town administrator," which was seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair described the vote as unanimous.

Under the terms discussed during the public interview, the hire remains contingent on successful contract negotiations and customary human-resources review. The board did not set a start date during the meeting.

The Select Board thanked Jeff Ricker for participating in the process and for his qualifications; no further personnel actions were announced at the meeting.