I-Team: hiring practices questioned

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The state has temporarily suspended the Springfield Fire Department's right to conduct its own job interviews.

The Civil Service Commission made the ruling after discovering a Deputy Fire Chief played a role in hiring his own son.

The Springfield Fire Department is temporarily suspended from conducting its own job interviews.

This after a Massachusetts Civil Service Commission investigation found the departments Deputy Fire Chief, Jerrold Prendergast, played a role in the hiring of his son, Jeremy.

"It's not only for me, it's for the people that got bypassed," said Christopher Benevento, Springfield.

Benevento was eliminated from the list of applicants early on and was one of three people to appeal the decision, resulting in an investigation by the civil service commission.

"He knew his son got hired, just as well as the commissioner at the fire department also knew that his son was on that list and allowed that to happen," Benevento said.

According to fire spokesman Dennis Leger, Jeremy Prendergast was one of 21 appointments and was not interviewed or appointed by his father.

Commissioner Gary Cassanelli made that decision.

According to the documents Commissioner Cassinelli testified that there were several good candidates but it was Jeremy Prendergast's education that set him a part from the rest. He was apparently just shy of a bachelors degree. No other applicants had comparable education, but the civil service report obtained by the 22News I-Team ruled that the fire department's selection process was flawed and unfair.

Until all appeals relative to the case are resolved, an outside panel will be selected to conduct all job interviews for the department.    

They're also ordering all candidates who were not given full consideration to be placed at the top of the list for the next round of appointments.

Click here to read the commission's order.