Ex-Gloversville fire chief named county coordinator

The Fulton County Board of Supervisors has named Steven Santa Maria as the county’s new fire coordinator and civil defense director.

The duties of the combined position include acting as a liaison between the Board of Supervisors and various fire agencies in the county, overseeing training for firefighters, being responsible for emergency planning and being in charge of code enforcement for county-owned buildings. The position carries a $45,000 annual salary

Santa Maria, of Gloversville, replaces Allan Polmateer, who retired last month after 12 years in the position. Santa Maria acknowledged he has tough shoes to fill.

“Allan did a very good job with the office,” he said. “As the new person, I don’t expect any radical changes right away.”

Because of his extensive background and experience, Santa Maria said he feels he brings a little bit of everything to the position.

From 2005 until his retirement in 2007, Santa Maria was chief of the Gloversville Fire Department. Before that, he was a battalion chief from 2001 to 2005 and a captain from 1992 to 2005. He became a firefighter in 1984.

Santa Maria also has experience as deputy fire coordinator and served on the Fulton County Fire Advisory Board and the Fulton County Emergency Medical Services Council.

“Mr. Santa Maria has solid experience in command roles and I think the Board was impressed with his administrative skills,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Argotsinger said in a news release.

He also noted Santa Maria’s “background and reputation indicate that he can manage all the various facets of fire service support and emergency management.”

Santa Maria explained that after retiring from the Gloversville Fire Department, he began to miss it and wanted to contribute again.

“When you walk away from something, you understand how important it was when it’s no longer available to you,” he said.

Santa Maria will start his new position in early August.