Viveiros sworn in at ceremony
By Tracy F. Seelye, Express editor
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HALIFAX —Fire Chief Jason Viveiros was officially welcomed aboard in a brief, often emotional swearing-in ceremony at the fire station Monday, Aug. 18.
For Viveiros it was the second of three joyous personal milestones to celebrate this month — he and his wife Darlene were married Aug. 1 and will hold a belated wedding reception Saturday, Aug. 30. On this night, Darlene proudly pinned on her husband’s new badge after he was sworn in Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor.
The ceremony was attended by Halifax firefighters and their families. local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members, selectmen Kim Roy and Troy Garron, and firefighters from departments in Abington, Middleborough, Plympton, Sandwich and Swansea.
“I would like to thank all the chiefs that have come from surrounding towns for this occasion and to the Viveiros family,” Viveiros said. “I’d like to thank the Board of Selectmen for giving me this opportunity — in particular Selectman Roy for her guidance over the last couple of weeks in orienting me to my new position.”
He thanked the Plymouth County Fire Chiefs, of which individual members have offered their assistance during his two-week transition.
Viveiros reserved particular thanks to Swansea Fire Chief Peter Burke, “Who hired me when I was 18 and pretty much taught me how to be a firefighter,” and retired Dennis Newman of the Sandwich Fire Department, “who was one of my greatest role models.”
During the interview process, Viveiros cited Miller as being the chief he aspired to emulate.
“Most of all, I’d like to thank the members of the Halifax Fire Department who have welcomed me with open arms from the minute I got here and I hope to serve them proudly every day,” he said.
It was very much a family affair as Viveiros nieces and nephews scampered about, exploring the station and its equipment. In three minutes, it was over and time for the cameras to come out.
“We’re really excited that he’s here with us,” Roy said. “We know he’s been through a lot to get here. … We’re so proud of him in the first two weeks that he’s been with us and we think he’s going to do great things for our community.”
Viveiros was appointed July 14 after the last round of interviews with four finalists for the post, the climactic step in a painstaking selection process.
The finalists were Viveiros, Rutland Chief Bradley Weber, Pembroke Capt. Kenneth McCormick and Randolph Lt. Thomas LaBelle. Halifax Capt. Jerry Cuozzo, who is also a paramedic, had served as interim chief of the department for six months after former Halifax Fire Chief William Carrico left to take the job of chief at the Sandwich Fire Department.
Cuozzo, who has young children he said he needs to be with, felt he was not ready to make the commitment to apply for the position on a full-time basis.