By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
7/9/09
Surrounded by his fellow firefighters, friends and family, John Grant Jr. was sworn in as the new chief of the Fire Department at a ceremony June 30 at the Senior Center.
In becoming chief, he has done something not too many people can say: He follows in his father’s footsteps.
Grant, 49, is the son of former Fire Chief John Grant, who led the department from 1972 to 1979.
The younger Grant has served for the past 18 months as deputy chief and has over 22 years of experience in the department. He also once headed the firefighters’ union.
When he interviewed for the position back in April, he told Selectmen he knew when he was in college he would be a Milton firefighter.
“I’ve given a lot of myself for this job without asking for anything in return,” Grant said at the time.
At last week’s ceremony, he kept his words short and simple.
“Don’t expect a speech,” he joked. “I’ll talk about anybody else but not about myself.”
With Grant as chief, Town Clerk James Mullen Jr. said the town now can claim something quite unique: Both its police and fire chiefs are sons of former chiefs. Police Chief Richard Wells Jr. followed his father into his position when he was named chief in 2007.
“I’d venture to say that no other community in Massachusetts has that,” said Mullen.
Selectman Kathy Fagan said Grant follows in the “proud tradition” of Milton fire chiefs, including the most recent, Malcolm Larson, who stepped down last month after 11 years as head of the department. A retirement party was held for him June 19.
Grant has said the primary goal of his first year as chief will be to create a more uniform training schedule and seek funding to establish a training officer position within the department.
Under a three-year contract with the town, Grants earns $127,000 in his first year as chief, which began July 1. He will negotiate his second- and third-year salaries with Selectmen.