Published July 3, 2019
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — It’s official. Nearly 18 months after his appointment as the town’s Provisional Fire Chief, Donald W. Stats Jr. was sworn in Monday, July 1 to lead his department as its permanent Fire Chief.
The official swearing-in ceremony was attended by a full house of family, friends and colleagues at Town Hall Monday morning. It was conducted by the Fire Chief’s mother, Town Clerk Barbara Stats, as his wife Tracy, their sons, Jake and Zack, and his dad, Don Sr. looked on.
Prior to administering the oath of office, Mrs. Stats told her son that his entire family was very proud of his accomplishments. She also acknowledged the unique honor of serving in a role that enabled her to conduct this ceremony.
“There are only 351 City and Town Clerks in this state and only 351 Fire Chiefs. How fortunate that your career path and mine should intersect for the fourth time in your 21 years of public service as a firefighter, captain, provisional chief, and now as the permanent Fire Chief. I hope that this final oath will hold as much meaning for you as it will for me, not only for its pledge and commitment to your position, but also for the very unique circumstances which bring you and I together,” Mrs. Stats said.
Included in the oath Mrs. Stats wrote was a pledge for her son to “serve and protect the community at large and the citizens within” and a call to impart “professional standards of quality and integrity so that the conduct of (your) office shall be above reproach and shall merit public confidence.”
Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto, who appointed Stats to both the provisional and now permanent positions of Fire Chief, told those in attendance that Stats has done a “fantastic job” while serving as the town’s Fire Chief “on a provisional basis.”
Stats was appointed to this temporary position in late January of 2018 upon the retirement of former Fire Chief Bill Warnock, who had served the department for more than 35 years. The position of Fire Chief in North Reading is governed by the state’s Civil Service rules.
“Two months ago we conducted an assessment center using an outside firm that identified Don as a candidate for appointment as well. As a result of that we go through a Civil Service process and we have a permanent appointment that we are happy to making here this morning,” Gilleberto said.
Gilleberto said the assessment center process, which was run by MMA, a private consulting firm, also included input from Police Chief and Public Safety Director Michael Murphy, Finance Director Liz Rourke, and Human Resources Director Bob Collins; he thanked each of them for their contribution to the process.
Gilleberto acknowledged Select Board member Liane Gonzalez for representing the board at the swearing-in ceremony. He also thanked the two retired Fire Chiefs in attendance, Richie Harris and Bill Warnock, as well as the captains, permanent and call firefighters and deputy fire chief who were present to represent the department. Also lending their support were Superintendent of Schools Jon Bernard, Student Services Director Cynthia Conant, the School Department’s Director of Finance and Operations Michael Connelly, and a multitude of town department heads and employees and former colleagues.
Fire Chief’s remarks
Following the swearing in, Chief Stats said he felt “truly humbled and blessed that you all are here with my family and me to share in this moment” and spoke of the importance of teamwork and the value of mentorship at each step of his career.
“This moment began 25 years ago and it has truly been a great adventure and an important journey. The journey began after graduating college while I worked full-time as a dispatcher for Danvers Police and Fire while also working part-time at the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. It has brought Tracy and me across the country while I worked in the Border Patrol and back again to the North Reading Fire Department.
“The journey and the adventure continued within the North Reading Fire Department, the Department of Fire Services’ Hazardous Materials Team, the FEMA National Urban Search and Rescue Team, and the Essex County Technical Rescue Team where I’ve had the opportunity to work, train, sweat, and bleed alongside some of the greatest, most devoted people I’ve ever known. I was able to become a true student of those jobs, not only in the different skill sets required of each, but more importantly in learning some of more challenging aspects of leadership from my current and former teammates,” the chief said.
Teamwork is vital
“As time passed, I found my roles within these organizations changing. I found myself encouraging, teaching and mentoring younger or newer members. I found myself being asked to fill leadership roles and develop new programs, training evolutions and personnel. While I found my roles through all these organizations changing and the responsibilities becoming much more complex, I was not alone and I truly understood what my former teachers and mentors already knew. We are part of great teams.
“Through it all teamwork remains the constant thread that runs through my story,” he said.
“Teamwork is pervasive throughout the Fire Service and the different teams that I’ve had the privilege of being associated with. I would not have been able to accomplish everything that I’ve achieved without teamwork. In saying all this, I would like to take this opportunity to thank some of my teammates.
“First, I would like to thank the talented and devoted group of men at the North Reading Fire Department for doing the great job you do every day. I thank you for the diverse skill sets and loyalty that you bring to the Department. The Town of North Reading is truly a safer community because of your actions every day,” Stats said.
He gave special acknowledgment to retired Fire Chief Ed O’Brien “for believing in me and granting me the opportunity to work for the North Reading Fire Department 21 years ago.”
Stats also thanked the NRPD for its “support and teamwork while keeping the Fire Department safe during our operations” as well as his Administrative Assistant Sandy Quinlan “for the great job she does in a very complex system.”
Additionally, he thanked the Select Board and local department chiefs and members for taking time to attend; the Town Administrator “for the opportunity to lead this Department;” Public Safety Director Michael Murphy “for your advice and counsel as well as the support you’ve shown the Fire Department;” and Finance Director Elizabeth Rourke and H.R. Director Robert Collins for “the support and loyalty that you’ve shown me and the Department.”
“I’d like to thank my parents, Don and Barbara Stats, for setting the right example throughout my life, at times applying the right amount of motivation, and showing me how to get the best out of myself. You’ve always shown and taught me the true meaning of hard work and perseverance through your example,” he said.
“My last set of thanks goes to what is truly first in my life, my wife, Tracy, and my sons, Jake and Zack. Throughout this entire journey you’ve been my foundation from which to build off, my sounding board when I needed advice, and a shoulder to lean on when I needed support,” he said, adding, “While I have talked about my career as an adventure and journey, you will always be my greatest adventure and my most important journey. I could not have done or accomplished any of this without your love and support. You are my greatest fans, you are my rock.