BELCHERTOWN — Leverett’s fire chief for more than six years could soon take the reins of the Belchertown Fire Department.
John Ingram, an Amherst fire captain who has served as Leverett’s chief since January 2015, was offered the job by the Select Board, which voted 5-0 last week to do so. Ingram’s hiring is contingent on successful contract negotiations for a position that was advertised with a salary range of $93,031 to $118,759.
Ingram said Wednesday that he would comment on the appointment once he has reached a deal with the town.
He was the lone finalist brought forward by a screening committee that interviewed a half-dozen candidates to replace Fire Chief Edward Bock, who retires later this month.
“We are grateful for your service and we’re very much looking forward to you taking this position in our town,” Select Board Chairwoman Gail L. Gramarossa said at the meeting. “I think we’re going to benefit tremendously.”
The department has a full-time chief and assistant fire chief, 16 full-time firefighter/paramedics and more than 30 volunteer firefighters.
An Amherst native, Ingram joined the Amherst Fire Department in 1988 as a call firefighter and was appointed a full-time firefighter in 1993. He was promoted to captain in 2008 and has a master’s degree in fire science and administration from Anna Maria College in Paxton.
Ingram also recently earned accreditation from the Massachusetts Fire Service Commission based on the experience, education and training he has brought to Leverett in running its fire department.
