David Yaffe-Bellany Photo
Black, at left, at Ricci-crashed promotional ceremony.
After repeated attacks from the city’s fire union president, interim Fire Chief Ralph Black has taken his name out of the running for the permanent position.
Black has served as interim chief since January, when Allyn Wright stepped down. He was one of three finalists to become the permanent chief.
The other two finalists are from out of town. The search committee was prepared to submit all three finalists’ names to Mayor Toni Harp this week for her review.
Then Black informed Chief Adminsitrative Officer Mike Carter in a letter Sunday that he has withdrawn his name from consideration. He wrote that he will step down from the interim position on July 8 and “pursu[e] other job opportunities” as well as “continue with my teaching in the fall.”
“The time spent working with you and the others was a great experience that will help me professionally,” Black wrote. He did not return calls seeking comment on Monday.
A respected veteran of the department during 27 years on the force, Black came out of retirement in January to take the interim post. He was until recently considered a frontrunner for the permanent job.
Then he came under repeated public criticism from fire Union President Frank Ricci. Ricci crashed a promotional ceremony to charge that Black had failed to follow the proper rules; Black had to go back to the Fire Commission for formal approval of the promotion. Then Ricci held up signs of deteriorating conditions at firehouses outside a press conference held to hail recent improvements.
“New Haven firefighters wish him well in his future endeavors,” Ricci stated Monday. “We are hopeful that the next chief will have the vision to lead this department into the future.”
Black has been inducted into the Connecticut State Firefighters Association Hall of Fame; he teaches fire science at Gateway Community College.
Mike Carter was out of town Monday. His deputy, Jennifer Pugh, said the committee may need to return to the pool of candidates to come up with a third alternative for the mayor’s consideration. Mayor Harp told the Independent she thinks that may be a good idea.
“We had some good candidates. It’s doable,” Pugh said.
Asked who will run the department in the interim after July 8, Pugh replied, “to be determined. When Mike gets back, he and the mayor will talk about what makes the most sense.” After Wright left, and before Black took over, Assistant Chief Matt Marcarelli was put in charge.
Carter texted in a tribute from out of the country: “Chief Black is an exceptional fire chief, operationally sound and relates very well to all stakeholders. He is an even better person, a class act.”