Jack Horner Steps Down After 20 Years as Fire Commissioner

Jack Horner, a member of the Fire Commission for two decades—a volunteer service record that spans several significant changes to the New Canaan Fire Department’s policies and staffing—announced Tuesday night that he’s retiring from the role.

Addressing fellow Commissioners Beth Jones and Bob Fields, Fire Chief Albe Bassett, Fire Marshal Paul Payne and several firefighters, Horner noted a handful of those changes during a regular meeting of the appointed body.

L-R: Firefighters Michael A. Esposito and Barry Setayesh in 2021 with Jack Horner, Fire Commission chair. Contributed

The Commission’s major achievements during the past 20 years have “probably transformed the fire department in meaningful ways,” Horner said during the meeting, held in a conference room at Town Hall. 

The Commission oversaw the hiring of the department’s first career assistant chief, a career chief and two successive fire marshals while restructuring the fire marshal’s office. 

“We increased the size of the daily shifts to six firefighters helping us meet OSHA and NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] requirements. It increased the safety of our citizens and firefighters and helped us reduce budget items and budget expenditures such as callback over time. We instituted a zero-based budgeting process and created a more predictable budget. We upgraded the apparatus fleet over time to meet modern safety standards and operational efficiency.”

The Fire Commission presented Fire Marshal Fred Baker with a plaque on occasion of his retirement, during its Oct. 13, 2020 meeting. L-R: Fire Commissioners Kerry Smith, Beth Jones, Baker, Chair Jack Horner and Fire Chief Jack Hennessey. Photo courtesy of Russ Kimes III

Referring to Jones, he continued, “We appointed our first female fire commissioner, sitting to my left.”

Horner, a fixture in the Memorial Day Parade who spent most of his 20 years on the Commission as its chair, added that the nine career firefighters have been hired from the ranks of New Canaan Fire Company No. 1, “which speaks volumes to the training they receive—not only from other volunteers, but especially also from our career firefighters.”

“And among those nine career firefighters that we hired, it included our first female career firefighter,” he said. “During that time period, we also started the process of sending all new firefighters, no matter what their experience, to the Connecticut Fire Academy. And we increased our public education and awareness program to further increase the safety of our town residents.”

Six years during the early part of Horner’s tenure overlapped with the administration of former First Selectman Rob Mallozzi, a volunteer firefighter. A father and grandfather, Horner said that he did not intend to seek reappointment following the end of his current term on Dec. 1.

“With those accomplishments under our belts, I am announcing officially, although I [already] have privately to the first selectman, I’m announcing my retirement,” he said. “Thank you all for your time. I appreciate it.”

Horner made his announcement under the ‘New Business’ agenda item at the approximately 20-minute meeting.

Before it adjourned, Jones said, “I’d first like to thank you for your many years of service. It’s been a pleasure to work with you.”

Bassett said, “Echo those thoughts. Thank you.”