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Boston's new firetruck safety chief fired

E-mail|Link|Comments () May 15, 2009 05:00 PM

By Donovan Slack, Globe Staff

The new fleet safety manager hired to help improve maintenance of Boston's firetrucks was fired less than two weeks into the job for absenteeism, Fire Department officials said.

Fire officials said George Pelletier, who previously oversaw vehicle maintenance in New Bedford, was selected after a broad search and began work in Boston on May 4. He was fired Thursday after he called in sick May 8 and failed to show up for work Tuesday and Wednesday, the officials said.

"We tried to contact him. He did not return our calls. He was effectively MIA for two days," Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser said. "I need to have someone in this job that I can trust and depend on. I did not feel he was right for the position."

Pelletier could not be reached for comment. A telephone number listed in public records has been temporarily disconnected.

Pelletier was hired after an outside review of firetruck maintenance concluded that the department needed a fleet safety manager. The review followed a fatal firetruck crash in January that was blamed on brake failure.

The Globe reported in January that the brakes on the firetruck that crashed had not been inspected for nine months, despite the manufacturer's recommendation they be inspected every three months. The newspaper also has reported that the Fire Department had no preventive maintenance program for firetrucks.

As safety inspector, Pelletier would have been responsible for implementing a regular inspection and preventive maintenance program.

Fraser said he is launching a search to fill the post immediately.

Michael Levenson of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Donovan Slack can be reached at dslack@globe.com.