At a recent Hopkinton selectmen meeting, part-time Fire Chief Richard Schaefer was appointed full-time acting fire chief. He will assume the full-time duties July 13.

Schaefer has been a member of the Hopkinton Fire Department and ambulance squad for 30 years. He served as the part-time chief in 1999 and also served as full-time facilities director for the Hopkinton School District since 1999.

The full-time deputy fire chief position has been vacant since the retirement of John Pianka. Funding will be transferred to support the full-time acting chief’s salary. Two part-time call firefighters with the deputy chief designation will assist Schaefer with command and administrative duties.

The total 2009 budget for the Fire Department remains unchanged.