Sean Duffy of Haverhill is expected to be allowed to take the state civil service examination for firefighter despite being older than the maximum age to take the test.
The city’s home rule petition was approved by the state House of Representatives last March and by the Senate this past Monday is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey.
As WHAV reported last Sept. 16, the Haverhill City Council, with the support of Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, approved the city’s home rule petition as Duffy was four years older at the time than the 32-year-old maximum age.
The Haverhill Fire Department has been in the midst of an historic hiring surge that began in the fall of 2023 with receipt of a $4.1 million federal grant to add 16 positions to fill a second ladder truck and the need to replace retiring firefighters.
Duffy’s home rule petition was carried to the Legislature by Rep. Andy X. Vargas.
Haverhill, however, seeks to permanently raise the minimum age from 32 to 40 to take the firefighting or police officer civil service examinations with another bill still pending on Beacon Hill. Vargas also filed age-raising bill last year. This past May, the bill was sent to the Legislature’s Public Service Committee for study. The committee has until the end of the year to investigate the matter and propose draft legislation.