HomeMy Public PortalAbout4/30/2022 Proclamation: PROCLAMATION HONORING FIRE CHIEF ROBERT J. QUINN ON HIS RETIREMENTELECTED OFFICIALS:
Watertown City Council
Administration Building
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-972-6470
PROCLAMATION HONORING
Mark S. Sideris, FIRE CHIEF ROBERT J. QUINN ON HIS RETIREMENT
Council President
Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., WHEREAS: Fire Chief Robert J. Quinn has served the Cityof Watertown for 35 ears beginning
Vice President & y g g
District C Councilor as a Firefighter on April 30, 1987; rose through the ranks; was appointed Provisional Chief in 2017;
and was sworn in on September 16, 2018; and
John M. Airasian
Councilor At Large WHEREAS: Chief Quinn, has faithfully executed his responsibilities of delivering fire and
emergency medical services to the community; managing Department personnel, resources, and
Caroline Bays policies and procedures; and obtaining $300,000 in grant funding to support equipment replacement
Councilor At Large and community programming; and
John G. Gannon, WHEREAS: Chief Quinn has helped his employees and provided quality services to the community:
Councilor At Large he expanded the Department's resources; upgraded the Staff Service Officer position to an Assistant
Fire Chief; created an Assistant Fire Inspector position; obtained improved equipment — Engine 2,
Anthony Palomba, a Ford 150 as a C-2, Medic 1, Ladder 1, and Ladder 2; oversaw Station 3 renovations; and worked
Councilor At Large tirelessly on the radio system to provide quality coordinated disaster services; and
Nicole Gardner, WHEREAS: Chief Quinn has focused on the health and wellness of his department members,
District A Councilor especially cancer, an environmental occupational concern, he had consultants work with firefighters
Lisa J. Feltner, to improve their health and wellness; fostered classes on cancer prevention and skin cancer
District Councilor screenings; purchased equipment to clean the gear to reduce carcinogen exposure; established
policies promoting workplace cancer awareness and prevention; and commissioned a plaque listing
Emily Izzo, department members who died from occupational cancer; and
District D Councilor
WHEREAS: During his tenure, Chief Quinn faced challenges including the Line of Duty Death of Firefighter Joseph
Toscano, the occupational cancer death of Chief Orangio, and the death of retired Chiefs McCaffrey and Gianotti and
other retired members, he showed leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic including the creation of policies keeping
Department members safe and healthy, maintaining staffing levels to continue providing quality community service,
and being the voice to the community providing the status of the pandemic; and
WHEREAS: Chief Quinn mindful of the Fire Department's history with Watertown FF L1347's remembered their
departed members installing 5 plaques this spring for those who died in the Line of Duty; and
WHEREAS: Robert J. Quinn, once described as a strong and progressive leader committed to developing future
leaders and moving the Watertown Fire Department forward, has achieved retirement, the Community and his fellow
firefighters wish Chief Quinn a long and happy retirement, and honor his family, his wife Eileen, and his children
Rebecca, Bridget, and Robert, for sharing their husband and father who provided such care to and concern for the City
of Watertown.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the City Council of Watertown extends its congratulations to
ROBERT J. QUINN ON HIS RETIREMENT AS THE WATERTOWN FIRE CHIEF
IN WITNESS HEREOF,
I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
Great Seal of the City of Watertown to be
Affixed on t s 301h day of April 2022
Mark S. Sideris, Council President