Medina fire chief postpones retirement, likely for at least a year
Photo by Tom Rivers: Medina Fire Chief Tom Lupo intended to retire April 30, but has rescinded his retirement and will continue to lead the department.
MEDINA – The Fire Department’s chief for the past three years was to retire on April 30. However, Tom Lupo has agreed to stay longer, likely for another 15 to 18 months to give more time for others to get the training needed to lead the department.
Lupo has worked as Medina’s part-time chief since March 28, 2016. He also is the assistant fire chief in Lockport. In Medina, he is paid $30,000 a year for up to 30 hours of work each week.
The state passed new legislation that took effect in January, requiring more training hours for fire chiefs leading departments with at least five paid firefighters. The chiefs now need at least 229 hours of approved training classes.
Those classes are offered on a sporadic schedule, said Medina Mayor Mike Sidari.
The mayor said he is grateful Lupo is postponing his retirement to give Medina more time to have a qualified successor.
“The state made the requirements more stringent,” Sidari said at Monday’s board meeting. “Right now no one is eligible.”
