Leadership

NH Chief Chosen for Top Spot at MA Department

March 16, 2019

Steve Achilles, Portsmouth's current fire chief, was unanimously picked to be the next chief for the Southborough Fire Department.

By Jonathan Phelps

Source MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, Mass.

Steve Achilles, the new chief for the Southborough Fire Department.

SOUTHBOROUGH — Selectmen on Friday morning unanimously picked Steve Achilles as the town's next fire chief.

Achilles is the current fire chief in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

The board also heard from Neil McPherson, assistant fire chief in Wayland.

"We were fortunate to have two wonderful candidates," said selectmen Chairwoman Lisa Braccio. "For me, Chief Achilles met the goals and the vision that I myself was looking for in the department."

Braccio said she appreciated Achilles' honesty about making the decision in parting ways with a grant-funded rescue boat in Portsmouth, despite it being an unpopular decision in the seacoast city.

Achilles said he will look to make "measured and appropriate" changes to the department after listening to firefighters and other staff.

Achilles said he spent several years living in Westborough as a child.

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