Fire chief announces retirement

By Martin B. Cassidy
Staff Writer

May 8, 2007

After two years as Greenwich fire chief, Sanford "Sandy" Anderson, the first black to lead the department and a leader who oversaw the introduction of a new command structure, announced yesterday that he will retire Aug. 1. Anderson, 74, said he was motivated to step down two years into a three-year contract to spend time with his family and travel.

"Let me stop while I'm ahead," said Anderson who lives in Norwalk with his wife Josephine. "There is a good person to take over, so I'm going to enjoy the rest of my life."

Anderson, who was appointed by the Board of Selectmen in July 2005, said he will retire at the end of the day Aug. 1, working until then without plans to take accrued sick time or other leave. He cited the hiring of Assistant Fire Chief Peter Siecienski and the long-awaited establishment of four deputy fire chief positions to take command at firefighting calls as highlights of his tenure.

Yesterday Anderson said he believed Siecienski was a well qualified candidate to lead the department, which is comprised of 107 career personnel and more than 100 volunteers.

"I've accomplished quite a few things and it is a very happy and wonderful experience to wind up my career here as the chief of the Greenwich Fire Department," Anderson said. "My crowning glory is bringing Pete on board. As things have progressed along, I know I have a good person to take my place and he can take it to the next step."

First Selectman Jim Lash said that Anderson's hiring of Siecienski and the creations of the deputy chiefs established a way to groom successors to the position of chief. Anderson also adopted new standards for recruiting and training volunteer firefighters which were important, Lash said.

"The primary accomplishments in his tenure as the chief was the creation of the shift commanders that gives us a succession plan for the fire department," Lash said. "He made important changes."

Lash said the Board of Selectmen will consider appointing a new fire chief at its Wednesday meeting, with Siecienski being the leading candidate.

"I support him as chief, but we will have to see what the other two selectmen feel about it," Lash said. "They have a right to be heard."

Norwalk's first black firefighter, Anderson spent 46 years with the Norwalk Fire Department, serving his final year in 2004 as chief. He then briefly retired before breaking another barrier when hired by Greenwich to replace Fire Chief Daniel Warzoha, becoming the town's first black fire chief. Appointed at age 73, he was also believed to be the oldest non-elected town department head.

Anderson said his successor will deal with several important projects in the near future.

Anderson said that the department is readying to phase in a civilian dispatch system, having non-sworn personnel field fire calls, which will free up to eight career firefighters who now served as dispatchers to return to firefighting duties, Anderson said.

"The biggest thing will be getting will be getting the civilian dispatch lined up which will help us get more guys back on the floor," Anderson said.

The renovation of the Central Fire Building into a new fire station, work which is scheduled to begin in 2010, will also require extensive oversight, he said.

During his career, Anderson also served as a senior instructor at the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks.

Siecienski, 52, a town native who served as the Danbury fire chief from 2001 to 2006, joined the Greenwich department in November as assistant chief, a position with overall authority over the department's everyday operations.

Siecienski, a 34-year-veteran of the Danbury force, replaced retired Assistant Chief Michael Puterbaugh. Siecienski could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Warzoha said that Anderson did a good job of hiring the deputy chiefs and performing day-to-day tasks such as overseeing the acquisition of new equipment while coping with the challenge of Puterbaugh's retirement.

"He picked up the mantle and went with it, getting the deputy chiefs and continuing the apparatus replacement program," Warzoha said. " He can walk away with his head held high and a sense of accomplishment and I certainly wish him the best in what I think will be his final retirement. He's had a long and glorious career."

Anderson said retirement will allow him more time to spend with his four children and five grandchildren.

"It's time to be with them more," he said. "Again, I'd like to thank the town of Greenwich for letting me finish my career on the high."