Newington Appoints John Hoffman Fire Marshal

Other Committee · Meeting of August 13, 2026

Newington's fire commissioners appointed John Hoffman as the town's new fire marshal and immediately posted for his old assistant post. Hoffman, previously acting fire marshal and a South Windsor deputy chief, beat out seven other applicants after a multi-round interview process; one commissioner said "the talent that we had for this town blew me away." The board also recognized Fire Chief Traumer, Tony Palazzi and Captain Kurt Roseman for completing Fire Officer 3 certification, and heard the fire marshal's office logged 123 events in July, including 84 business inspections, for what a commissioner called an "86 percent compliance rating," the highest on record. Outgoing assistant fire marshal John Sokolowski is moving to a full-time post in Glastonbury, and commissioners thanked Newington's departing town manager, Jonathan, who is returning to Pennsylvania.

All votes, including Hoffman's appointment, passed unanimously.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,979 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of August 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.

The Full Article

Call to Order and Recognitions

The meeting opened routinely, with a moment observed for firefighters killed battling wildfires in Canada and overseas over the preceding month, followed by approval of the June 11, 2026, minutes and the board's monthly reports without discussion.

The first substantive item was recognition of three department members who completed Connecticut's Fire Officer 3 certification: Fire Chief Traumer, Tony Palazzi and Captain Kurt Roseman. A commissioner described the credential as requiring Fire 1, Fire 2, fire instructor, and Fire Officer 1 and 2 certifications before it, calling the cumulative training "almost an undergraduate degree." Traumer was absent; his wife accepted the department's recognition in his place. Deputy Chief Bob Regina, asked by a commissioner whether the certification carries transferable college credit, said some of the coursework does transfer toward a degree, though not automatically toward an associate's degree as the commissioner had suggested.

The question before the board on this item was simply whether to formally recognize the achievement, which it did on a voice vote.

Fire Marshal's Monthly Report

Background and stakes: The fire marshal's office report is a standing monthly agenda item, but this month's carried extra weight because it was delivered by Acting Fire Marshal John Hoffman just before the board took up his permanent appointment to the position.

The question before the board: hear and accept the office's activity report for July.

Substantive content: Hoffman reported 123 total events for the month: 84 business inspections, 17 plan reviews and permit applications for new businesses, six code consultations, eight incident responses alongside the fire department, and two fire investigations. He cited specific active projects, including sprinkler system testing at Culver Street Apartments, now on its third building plus a clubhouse; the Spark Apartments on Cedar and Fenn streets, nearly complete with sprinkler work; a doubling of the Hitspace facility on Faith Road; ansul suppression system testing at the Market 32 grocery store that allowed it to open on schedule; and renovation work underway at Sally's of Pisa. The office also provided fire-watch staffing for the town's July fireworks display, covering the event from the moment the fireworks arrived in town through the post-show safety check. Hoffman himself attended a week of hazardous-materials code enforcement training at the National Fire Academy, and inspectors Eric Chase and Brian Petrucelli attended a car-fire investigation seminar hosted by the New London County Fire Marshals Association.

The deliberation: A commissioner highlighted the office's 86 percent compliance rating as the department's best ever. "It's amazing. It's the highest we've ever had. I don't think there's a town in this state that can hold a candle to 86 percent compliance rating," the commissioner said, crediting the team's commitment.

Outcome: The board voted unanimously to approve the report as presented.

Old Business: Facilities, Apparatus and Equipment

Several standing capital items moved forward incrementally. An architect has cleared the former Company 3 firehouse on Chapman Street as safe, and the department is coordinating with town staff to return apparatus there; a second ambulance, Service 2, is expected online at Company 2 by the end of August or start of September, according to Fire Chief Traumer's relay through the acting fire marshal.

Installation of exhaust-extraction systems, referred to in the meeting as "POMO vents," begins at Station 1 next week, with an electrician working alongside the vent contractor. Each firehouse is expected to take three to four days, with the full rollout complete within a month.

Deputy Chief Bob Regina reported that materials have arrived for burn-room repairs at the training facility, but the work will likely wait until October, after the department's burn season concludes.

On the new engine procurement, a representative of the truck committee told the board the specification is substantially complete, with some modifications still being worked out. A commissioner noted the project will remain on the agenda for years, as delivery typically runs three and a half to four years from order. Firehouse inspections were completed the prior week without issues; commissioners noted that Company 3 added a stone-faced memorial bench at its entrance. Chief officer evaluation forms have gone out to command staff, due back in early September, after which the commission will schedule evaluation sessions.

No votes were required on these updates; they were informational.

New Business: Fire Marshal Appointment and Assistant Marshal Posting

Background and stakes: The fire marshal position had been vacant in a permanent sense for roughly seven weeks, with Hoffman serving in an acting capacity. The town posted the opening and received eight applications from across the region.

The question before the board: whether to amend the agenda to immediately post a resulting assistant fire marshal vacancy, and whether to formally appoint a permanent fire marshal.

Substantive content: Board members said six of the eight applicants completed an oral board interview conducted at town hall, and the top three were brought before the full Board of Fire Commissioners for interviews. A commissioner described all three finalists as strong candidates. "The talent that we had for this town blew me away. These three individuals were spectacular, but there was one individual that absolutely shined and we couldn't be more happy to have him," the commissioner said.

The deliberation: There was no recorded disagreement among commissioners on the appointment; the discussion was celebratory rather than contested. One commissioner briefly explained Hoffman's path into the fire service, recounting that he ran into a burning house in South Windsor years earlier to rescue a cat before he was a firefighter, which "gave him the bug." Hoffman has worked as a deputy chief in South Windsor, where he currently also oversees personnel, benefits and IT, and has served as Newington's assistant fire marshal for about five years.

Procedural steps and outcome: The board first voted, on a motion and second from the floor, to amend the evening's agenda to add posting of the assistant fire marshal position; the vote was unanimous. A commissioner then moved to "accept an appointment of John Hoffman as the fire marshal for the town of Newington," which was seconded and approved unanimously. Town Counsel James, whose last name was not stated in the meeting, administered the oath of office to Hoffman, who was introduced with family members present: his father Michael, a former member of Company One; his wife Darlene; his son Aaron; his brother Doug; his son Andrew and Andrew's wife Leanne; and his cousin Jimmy and Jimmy's wife Brenda. The board then voted separately and unanimously to formally authorize posting of the assistant fire marshal opening, which a commissioner said would be coordinated with town hall the following day and run partly by Hoffman given his familiarity with the role.

Implications and what is next: Newington's fire-code enforcement leadership is now settled under a permanent appointee rather than an acting official, and the assistant fire marshal search begins immediately, with input from Hoffman expected to shape the hiring given his prior work in that same office.

Departures: Sokolowski and the Town Manager

The board separately acknowledged two departures. John Sokolowski, who had served in the fire marshal's office including overnight fire-call response, has accepted a full-time assistant fire marshal position in Glastonbury; commissioners noted his background as a West Stafford firefighter and deputy chief and wished him well. Separately, commissioners thanked the town manager, referred to in the meeting only by the first name Jonathan (also called "John" at one point), who is leaving Newington after about two years to return to his family in Pennsylvania. No surname for the town manager was given in the meeting, agenda or any other supplied source.

"I'd like to say on behalf of the fire commissioners, thanks for everything that you did to help us and support us. You'll be remembered by us. You'll be a good friend of the fire department," one commissioner said of the departing town manager.

Public Participation and Commissioner Remarks

During public comment, Deputy Chief Bob Regina reported that eight firefighters recently completed apparatus driver qualifications, which a commissioner called unusually fast training turnaround: "Here's eight guys that took it upon themselves that are out driving our apparatus, qualified soon." Captain Kurt Roseman outlined plans for the department's Sept. 11 observance, including a morning ceremony with police and EMS and a 6 p.m. evening ceremony at Company One's apparatus bay featuring invited speakers and, organizers hope, high school choirs; the evening event is open to the public.

Town Councilor Kim Rata, introduced at the meeting as deputy mayor and noted as the first female firefighter in Newington's history, told the board she attended a session of a girls' firefighter training camp at the state training center this summer, led by an official referred to as Chief Carter. Rata said the camp drew 32 participants aged 15 to 18, including young women from Indiana, Paraguay and Liberia, calling it the largest class since the program began, with an application cutoff normally set at 25 participants. "It's a feather in our cap that she knows Newington," Rata said of the camp's leadership, adding she expects a presentation to the town council on the program's outcomes.

In commissioner remarks, board members individually congratulated Hoffman, thanked Sokolowski, and reflected on the department's increased training rigor compared with past decades, when recruits attended regional schools in Plainville and Bloomfield rather than the current Connecticut State Fire Academy curriculum. One commissioner tied the department's training investment to its fire insurance Class 2 rating. The meeting adjourned on a unanimous voice vote.

WHO WAS THERE

Board of Fire Commissioners members present: multiple commissioners participated in discussion and voting; two were referred to in the meeting only by the first names Brian and Kent, and at least one additional commissioner presided over the agenda and votes without a name stated in the transcript. No commissioner surnames beyond context clues were confirmed in the available sources.

Staff present: John Hoffman, acting fire marshal and, as of this meeting, fire marshal; Deputy Chief Bob Regina; Captain Kurt Roseman; fire inspectors Eric Chase and Brian Petrucelli (named in the report, not confirmed present); John Sokolowski, outgoing assistant fire marshal; Tony Palazzi, recognized for Fire Officer 3 certification. Fire Chief Traumer was absent; his wife attended in his place. Town Counsel James administered the oath of office; his surname was not given.

Public commenters: Kim Rata, Newington town councilor and deputy mayor.

Family members present for Hoffman's swearing-in: father Michael, wife Darlene, son Aaron, brother Doug, son Andrew, daughter-in-law Leanne, cousin Jimmy, and Jimmy's wife Brenda.

Also referenced but not present: the town manager, identified only by the first name Jonathan/John, departing for Pennsylvania; Chief Carter, described as present at a state girls' firefighter training camp, affiliation not specified in the meeting.

ORGANIZATIONS AND DOCUMENTS REFERENCED

Connecticut State Fire Academy — cited as the source of the Fire Officer 3 certification earned by three department members and as the modern training pipeline replacing older regional fire schools.

New London County Fire Marshals Association — hosted the car-fire investigation seminar attended by inspectors Eric Chase and Brian Petrucelli.

National Fire Academy — Hoffman attended a weeklong hazardous-materials code enforcement course there in July.

South Windsor Fire Department — John Hoffman's prior department, where he served as deputy chief.

West Stafford Fire Department — John Sokolowski's prior department before joining Newington.

Town of Glastonbury — hired Sokolowski into a full-time assistant fire marshal position.

Culver Street Apartments, Spark Apartments (Cedar and Fenn), Hitspace (Faith Road), Market 32, Sally's of Pisa — active local construction and renovation projects cited in the fire marshal's monthly inspection and sprinkler-testing report.

ISO Class 2 fire protection rating — referenced by a commissioner as a measure tied to the department's training investment and relevant to property insurance.

June 11, 2026, meeting minutes — approved without discussion at the start of the meeting.