Kelly to leave Boston fire union presidency, seek state post

Tower Ladder 17 is the busiest fire truck in Boston, according to Steve MacDonald, a Fire Department spokesman.

But Kelly may be even busier than the truck soon. Robert McCarthy, the 23-year president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, recently turned 65 and is not allowed to seek another term. He will step down in January, and Kelly said he will seek his post.

‘‘I’ve worked hard for Local 718, and now I want to work hard for the state,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve devoted myself to working for firefighters in Boston, and now I plan to devote that energy to the firefighters throughout Massachusetts.’’

The vice president of Local 718, Rich Paris, will succeed Kelly. Paris inherits a 1,400-member union that recently won a multi-year arbitration agreement and a series of pay increases. Nick DiMarino, a former union president and current treasurer, will become vice president.

The arbitration award, which capped a four-year labor dispute, was Kelly’s toughest battle. The union fought with Mayor Thomas M. Menino over pay increases, benefits, and a new mandatory drug and alcohol testing policy. The arbiter’s award was then subject to scrutiny by the City Council in June.

The divisive labor war came to a close when the union, led by Kelly, and the City Council, led by President Michael P. Ross, agreed to a compromise where a particular pay raise for firefighters’ was reduced form 2.5 percent to 1.5 percent in return for agreeing to undergo drug and alcohol testing.

The argument over drug and alcohol testing came to the forefront in late 2007, after two firefighters died battling a West Roxbury restaurant blaze. Menino pressed efforts for testing and a bitter dispute with the firefighters union ensued after autopsy reports on firefighters Paul J. Cahill and Warren J. Payne showed Cahill had a blood-alcohol content of 0.27 and that Payne had traces of cocaine in his system.

‘‘The mayor respects Ed Kelly,’’ said Dot Joyce, Menino’s press secretary. ‘‘It’s a tough job that he had. He was a tough adversary.’’

Ross’s office did not return calls this afternoon seeking comment.

Boston Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser, in an interview, said there were ‘‘no hard feelings’’ between Kelly and him throughout all the battles.

‘‘I wish Eddie the best of luck as he returns to his fire company,’’ Fraser said. ‘‘And congratulations to Rich Paris on becoming the new president of the union.’’

‘‘He did a great job for us over the last five years,’’ Paris said. ‘‘I have big shoes to fill, but I want to continue what Eddie started.’’

Kelly’s leadership was tested again in 2009 when union maintenance of fire trucks was questioned by the city after a January crash in Mission Hill killed fire Lieutenant Kevin Kelley.

But in March of this year, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley and the Boston Police Department released a report that blamed Fire Department management and City Hall for a ‘‘loosey goosey’’ approach to fire truck maintenance and for having no preventative maintenance program leading up to the Mission Hill crash. The accident occurred when the truck’s brakes failed as it headed down a steep decline.

Reached by phone tonight, McCarthy, a 34-year Watertown firefighter who retired from the department as a captain in 2001, praised the man looking to succeed him.

‘‘I’ve worked with him on a daily basis for the last 16 months, and Ed Kelly is the total package,’’ McCarthy said. ‘‘He has that charisma and that unique ability. Bottom line: He is a leader.’’

John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com.