HUDSON — Fire Chief Bryan Johannes will be retiring on Jan. 14, 2024.
Johannes has served as chief since July 2019, but he has been a part of the department since 1988 when he started as a call firefighter. He became a full firefighter in November 2001 and a lieutenant in September 2014 with his final promotion as the appointed fire chief coming in 2019.
During the July 10 Select Board meeting, Chair Scott Duplisea recognized Johannes and highlighted his roles with the Hudson Fire Department.
“I’d like to, you know, personally thank you for stepping up at the time,” said Duplisea. “I was on the board, … and it came at a time when we had some unsettled times, and you really came in and pointed the department back in the direction it needed to go.”
He had spoken with Johannes then about the issues that needed to be addressed, and Johannes then made an effort to lead the department and improve the way it ran.
“Now, I see so many improvements. You really delved into a lot of the grant monies: looking to any you could to help the department,” Duplisea said.
While he was sad to see that Johannes was going to retire, Duplisea was glad for him and his family. He shared thanks for everything that the chief has done for the town of Hudson.
Johannes joked that he “wasn’t out of the door yet.”
He added, “I appreciate the sentiments, and it was a very personal decision.”
Select Board member Shawn Sadowski said that when he was on the Finance Committee, he believed Johannes’s work brought respect back to the fire chief position.
“Thank you for that,” said Sadowski. “Thank you for doing what you do for the town and writing all those grants. And I know that this could not be an easy decision for you, but congratulations.”
He added, “We’ll take you for the next six months as much as we can. Thank you for everything that you have done for that department and the town.”
Select Board member Michael Burks said his interactions with Johannes began when he served as a reserve police officer. Burks previously served as Hudson’s police chief until 2020.
“I was your then-training officer,” said Burks.
And, when he became fire chief, Burks said it was “good to have somebody in there to bounce things off of as I was a new chief.”
He added, “I thank you for your friendship, and I thank you for all the time we could commiserate together.”
Select Board member James Quinn said he has worked with a few different chiefs over the years.
“I can honestly say that you and I have never really butted heads about anything, and that was not the case previously,” said Quinn.
He noted his appreciation for how Johannes was “always willing to listen, always willing to talk.”
The board voted to note the pending retirement of Johannes.
