An aldermanic committee recommended that the full Board of Alders approve the mayor’s appointment of Daniel Coughlin as fire chief — even as that committee’s chair said she was frustrated Coughlin hadn’t let her know sooner about a fire in her ward. The Aldermanic Affairs Committee vote d to recommend Coughlin’s approval at its March 12 meeting at City Hall. The nomination, put forth by Mayor Justin Elicker, now heads to the full Board of Alders for a final vote. Coughlin, who has served as the New Haven Fire Department’s (NHFD) assistant chief of operations for the last three years, has been acting chief since the January retirement of Chief John Alston. Coughlin is the latest in a lineage of New Haven firefighters. Born in Fair Haven and a current Wooster Square resident of 29 years, Coughlin has served in the NHFD for nearly 24 years. “I worked up through the ranks through sheer hard work and dedication,” Coughlin said. “I have commanded countless major events throughout the city, and I have dedicated myself to learning all aspects of this department.” Coughlin said that if he is approved as chief, he will work to improve firefighters’ mental health — a subject that has come up in meetings he said he has had with every rank. He would aim to start in-house mental health training, a peer support team, and continue efforts to revive the NHFD’s Chaplin program. He also said the department would be more aggressive in its recruitment tactics, and that he wants the NHFD to have more of a presence at schools and community events. Pointing to the New Haven Police Department’s (NHPD) outreach method, like billboards and radio segments, Coughlin wants to designate a point person for schools and job fairs. “In the past we’ve done door hangers and things like that,” he said. “It’s good, but it’s not good enough.” “When Chief Alston sat here in this very committee, he told the alders that he was here so New Haven would never have to go to an outside chief again,” Coughlin said to the alders. “After three years of learning from Chief Alston, the time has come, in my opinion, to turn the top spot to New Haveners.” Sitting among alders Leland Moore, Kim Edwards, and Sal Punzo, committee chair and Edgewood Alder Evette Hamilton pointed to a “communication breakdown” that had occurred between her and Coughlin a few weeks before. “You and I had some choice words together because I was not too happy when the fire happened at 1523 Chapel St.,” Hamilton said. Hamilton had been frustrated when she hadn’t heard from Coughlin about the fire, which displaced 55 people at a five-story apartment building. “In the future, stuff like that cannot happen,” Hamilton said. “It’s the responsibility of department heads to communicate with alders. I don’t want to hear the newspaper calling me for a comment and I haven’t heard from department heads what happened in my area of responsibility.” “With that being said,” she continued, “if you are confirmed, sir, what is your plan to first and foremost bridge that gap of communication between the fire department and the Board of Alders?” “We did have several conversations and follow-ups afterwards,” Coughlin said. “I think I got you the information you needed after the fact.” “After the fact,” Hamilton emphasized. “It was a communication breakdown,” Coughlin said. He pointed to fires that later occurred in alders Caroline Tanbee Smith and Jeanette Morrison’s wards. “I made sure, after learning from you, that they were called.”  Coughlin said he would direct that whoever takes over as operations chief after him contact the relevant alder when there is a fire, even by using something as simple as “find my alder” and entering the address. “It’s not an elaborate answer, but it’s an effective answer,” he said.   When the meeting opened for public testimony, New Haven-raised NHFD Asst. Chief Shakira Samuel and fire union president Miguel Rosado, NHPD Acting Police Chief David Zannelli, Chief Administrative Officer Justin McCarthy, Emergency Management Director Kayla Bland, and retired Chief Alston all voiced their support for Coughlin. They spoke of his “exemplary dedication” and described him as a “constant professional” who also values the relationship between the NHFD and the NHPD. “He’s a man of integrity, knowledgable, competent. He has the ability to look at problems and not throw his hands up to complain,” Alston said. “You’re getting a person that loves this city, that loves this fire department and can communicate well.” The committee voted unanimously to recommend that the full Board of Alders approve Coughlin’s nomination. Hamilton said that she appreciated Coughlin’s cooperation even as she was upset with him, and the fact that he showed remorse. “You got back to me and nobody else did,” she said. When another fire happened in her ward, he called her. “That makes me know that I can put my trust in you to lead us,” Hamilton said. She said that she respects Alston highly. “Under his training you have learned a lot.” Hamilton said that Coughlin had her personal support. “If you can encourage some of our young people into the fire service,” she added, “it’s a great, great thing.” The post Alders Endorse Coughlin For Fire Chief appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less