Oak Bluffs has agreed to a three-year contract with its new fire chief. In a 4-1 vote last month, the select board hired W.F. Nelson Wirtz, choosing him from among three finalists.
His contract was finalized in a 4-1 vote at Tuesday’s select board meeting, with select board member Gail Barmakian the lone dissenting vote. The three-year contract is effective from May 24, 2021, to May 23, 2024. As long as both Wirtz and the town are satisfied, the contract will be automatically renewed upon the end of the contract’s term. Wirtz will receive a salary of $155,000 alongside a $750 uniform allowance.
“We probably ended up a little bit higher than where we wanted to be with the salary,” select board member Jason Balboni said on Tuesday:
According to a clause in the contract, the chief will need to establish residency on Martha’s Vineyard within one year of his appointment, and continue living on the Island throughout his tenure and any extensions given.