PITTSTON — The city fire department has a new deputy chief.

Council members Wednesday approved the appointment of Frank Roman to the position starting March 1. It comes with a $500 pay increase to his annual salary of $56,150, according to Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo.

Roman has been with the city fire department for the past 38 years and also serves as the assistant fire chief. He has previously served as the chief.

Current Fire Chief James Rooney said it was an easy decision to recommend Roman for the job.

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“He’s been here for a little bit,” he said. “He knows all the positions and he knows what the job entails.”

Roman said he and Rooney will sit down and discuss what his position entails since it’s a new one.

For now, he’s just happy to help the fire department grow.

“We need to move the fire department forward,” Roman said. “If we can get together and come up with a plan, moving forward is always a good thing.”

Mass to honor firefighters

Also during Wednesday’s council meeting, it was announced a special Mass will be held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of a tragic fire that took place March 15, 1993, in downtown Pittston.

The blaze took the lives of two rescuers — Pittston firefighter John F. Lombardo and West Pittston firefighter Leonard Insalaco II.

The Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 15 at St. John the Evangelist Parish, 35 William St.

In other business, council members…

• Approved naming the access structure on the side of City Hall. It will be called the Chris Latona Annex in honor of City Controller Chris Latona.

• Appointed Dr. Eugene Domenico to a five-year term on the City of Pittston Board of Health. The term expires April 1, 2022.

• Approved the submission of a “PA Small Water and Sewer” grant application for the proposed Panama Street Sewer Project in the amount of $424,845.

The project would replace sewer lines, repave the street, and install sidewalks and curbing.

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By Jimmy Fisher

jfisher@timesleader.com

Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher