New fire chief sworn into duty

by Melissa Martin

Oct. 15 township trustees meetings

Former Brunswick Fire Department Lt. Matt Payne has been sworn in as the new part-time chief of the Hinckley Fire Department.

Payne has been involved in the fire service for the past 38 years and brings with him experience as a firefighter, fire instructor, fire inspector, paramedic and member of the hazmat team.

He served as a lieutenant for the Brunswick Division of Fire for more than 20 years and worked as fire prevention officer for the Brunswick Hills Fire Department for six years.

Payne said he was “honored and humbled” to be standing before the community and thanked the board of trustees for having the confidence to hire him to lead the township’s fire department.

“I am fully committed to upholding the high standards of leadership, professionalism and service to Hinckley Township,” Payne said. “I believe in the power of teamwork and am eager to work with each and every one of you to continue advancing the Hinckley Fire Department. Together we will continue to tackle the challenges with courage, innovation and a relentless focus on the safety and well-being of our citizens.”

Payne will earn a salary of $55,000 per year with a six-month probationary period. Hinckley’s previous fire chief, Jestin Grossenbaugh, stepped down in September after 27 years of service to the department.

The department also promoted two of its own, Andrew Toth and Anthony Makaryk, to full-time firefighters Oct. 1. The changes took effect Oct. 13, and Toth and Makaryk will earn $20.67 an hour with a 12-month probation period. ∞