DERBY – Despite support from several emergency responders, former Derby Fire Department Chief David Lenart was not hired as the city’s new fire marshal last month.
Instead, the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen voted 6-1 to hire Brian Lampart, a former Stratford Fire Department chief, deputy fire marshal, fire marshal, and Trumbull deputy fire marshal.
The Alders made their choice based on the recommendation of a fire marshal search committee, according to statements made at the June 17 Aldermen/Alderwomen meeting.
The vote came after seven people spoke at the meeting in favor of Lenart.
None of Lenart’s supporters spoke negatively of Lampart.
Two speakers advised against making a decision based on politics. They did not elaborate, though Lenart is a former Republican member of the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen. He represented the Second Ward.
Lenart’s supporters said he was qualified for the job and should have been hired because of his lifelong experience in Derby and its emergency services.
Lenart is a former Derby fire department chief and assistant chief. He started as a volunteer firefighter in Derby in 1994. He was the chief of the Storm Ambulance Corps, co-founded by his grandfather. He was a firefighter in Bridgeport for 16 years and attained the rank of lieutenant before being hired as the Town of Somers fire chief in July 2024.
During the public portion of the June 17 legislative meeting, Marcel Lajeunesse, a retired Derby police officer and a 52-year member of the Derby Fire Department, pointed to a state law that says when hiring a fire marshal, preference should be given to local candidates.
He pointed out Derby’s previous fire marshal was an out-of-town hire who resigned after wrecking the fire marshal’s vehicle in a DUI crash.
Lajeunesse said Derby doesn’t need “another black eye” and that choosing an out-of-town candidate over a locally qualified candidate “is a slap in the face to every fireman in the City of Derby.”
“We have a local candidate who has 25 years of experience in our fire service, has been a past chief of the Derby Fire Department, and has been a past ambulance corps chief. He knows the buildings. He knows the town. He knows all the ins and outs of working in the town,” Lajeunesse said.
John Netto, a Derby resident who just retired from the Derby Police Department after more than 20 years, also spoke in favor of Lenart. The police department already has extensive experience dealing with Lenart, he said.
“For anything you can imagine, we could call Dave Lenart and he would be there in a moment’s notice. That’s the type of dedication you should be looking (for),” Netto said.
Jared Heon, an Ansonia resident who is captain of Storm Ambulance, also said Lenart deserved to be fire marshal, as did Tom DeGennaro, the chairman of the Derby Board of Police Commissioners.
“I don’t understand why he just isn’t appointed,” DeGennaro said.
Others speaking on Lenart’s behalf included Paul DeGennaro, Derby firefighter Mike Witek, and Jesse Marino, an assistant chief with the Derby Fire Department.
Marino said there was a rumor that members of the fire department would resign if Lenart was hired as fire marshal. He called such rumors ridiculous.
Mayor Joseph DiMartino said he had heard no such rumors.
Current Derby Fire Department Chief Thomas Biggs said he was not backing a candidate, but said experience is important.
“It shouldn’t matter whether you live in the town. You need experience,” Biggs said.
He noted that the city’s previous hire was third in the pool of candidates.
“Do the right thing. Make the right decision. Experience matters,” he said.
After eight people spoke on the position, the Aldermen & Alderwomen met in executive session, a type of meeting closed to the public. It’s allowed when talking about a personnel matter, litigation and real estate deals.
After emerging, they voted to hire Lampart without discussion.
Alderman David Chevarella voted against the appointment.
The Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen has eight Democrats and one unaffiliated member who ran as a Democrat.
Lenart declined comment for this story.
Linda Fusco, the mayor’s chief of staff, said in an email that the administration was happy to have residents express their opinions at the June 17 meeting.
The members of the search committee who recommended Lampart included DiMartino, Fusco, Derby Fire Commissioner Gary Parker, Shelton Fire Marshal James Tortora, Alderwoman Amy Pettinicchi, Aldermanic President George Kurtyka, and Derby Human Resources Director Katherine Christopher.
Lampart is scheduled to start July 28. The starting salary is $84,049.16.
Lampart lives in Shelton, where his resume shows he served on two building committees. He first volunteered with the Trumbull Fire Department in 1985 (until 2000) and joined the Stratford Fire Department (a paid department) in 1988.
He held the positions of fire marshal and deputy fire marshal from August 2009 until January 2020 before being named chief. He became Trumbull’s deputy fire marshal in 2022.