Great Barrington — Fire Department Chief Charles Burger and Council on Aging Director Polly Mann Salenovich are both set to resign their positions, according to Town Manager Mark Pruhenski. Town Manager Pruhenski announced the resignations at the Selectboard’s regular meeting on Monday, February 13.
Burger has been part of the fire department for over 20 years and served as its chief for over 10 years, starting in June 2012. According to his resignation letter, his last day as chief will be on March 31. “I could not be more proud of the outstanding service provided by the Great Barrington Fire Department,” Chief Burger wrote in his resignation letter to Town Manager Pruhenski. “It is truly a first-class organization, though few realize the work, dedication, and sacrifices made by the men and women of the department to make and keep it that way. It has been a pleasure to work for you over the past few years. Your help, guidance, and support convinced me to stay longer than I otherwise would have. But it is time for me to move on to other opportunities in life. I look forward to working with you to make a smooth transition to the next chief.”
Burger would not respond to calls for comment for this story. “I want to thank [Burger] for his dedication to this town and wish him all the best in his new chapter [in life],” Pruhenski told the Selectboard. “The recruitment process for our next chief is already underway. The help wanted ad is live and posted in several locations.”
According to the employment ad posted on LinkedIn by town Human Resources Director Sophia Bletsos, the town is looking for a candidate with a Bachelor’s Degree who has more than 15 years of “progressive experience in a municipal fire department.” Bletsos did not list a salary in the LinkedIn employment advertisement, but in the town’s municipal fiscal budget for 2022-2023, Burger’s salary is listed as $98,940.
The ad lists that the department currently has three full-time employees, 18 call firefighters, and a part-time administrative assistant and that the department responds to approximately 600 incidents and 650 EMS calls annually.
Pruhenski said that he recently met with the department’s leadership team and received an interim chief recommendation from them, but Pruhenski did not say who the team recommended during the February 13 meeting. He added that three members from the department are assisting with the interviewing and hiring process for the new fire department chief.
In her letter, Council on Aging Director Salenovich said that she would be resigning on May 2. As part of her position, Salenovich is in charge of The Claire Teague Senior Center at 915 S. Main Street. “The town of Great Barrington has been very good to me and I have always appreciated the opportunity given to me over the years, but it is time to go,” Salenovich wrote in her letter. Salenovich has served as the town’s Council on Aging Director for 11 years.
“I hope that I’ve touched some lives for the better during my time here,” Salenovich said to The Berkshire Edge. “Leaving with that thought would make me feel very fulfilled as a director. Being here has been filled with adventure, laughter, and tears. We’ve had many cookouts, picnics, and parties, and we have always provided services to the seniors in the community.” Salenovich said that she has “always wanted to be welcoming and open to the community, and that’s what [she] feel good about.”
Salenovich said that she plans to retire once she is finished with her last day as the Council on Aging Director. “I have a lot of interest that I have put on the back burner over the past 11 years,” she said. “This includes my music, gardening, and basketry. Those are the main things I would like to explore.”
She added that she will miss the volunteers and seniors she has worked with over the years. “The group of volunteers has made it all possible for so many great things to happen,” she said. “In some cases, many of them have been here [at the Senior Center] longer than I have, and they help out in so many different ways.”
According to the town’s municipal fiscal budget for 2022-2023, Salenovich’s salary is listed at $65,025.
