Weston chief applicants to be tested under fire

WESTON

The recruiting firm hired by the town to oversee the search for a new fire chief is contacting as many as seven of the top candidates in preparation for the next round in the process, said town Human Resources Director Lisa Yanakakis.

Municipal Resources of Meredith, New Hampshire will then conduct an "assessment center" in October to test the candidates' skills in decision-making, oral and written communication, internal and external customer service, leadership, organizational management, budgeting, and teambuilding. The assessment center consists of exercises and essays -- such as role playing a scene at a fire involving an angry citizen and an injured person -- that determine how the person would handle the demands of the job.

"It''s not a standard interview. It's pretty grueling," said Yanakakis.

Those who finish with high scores from the assessment process will move on to a series of interviews with town officials.

-- Stephanie V. Siek