In response to :Appointments & Approval of Hiring (On-Call Fire Department)
Yesterday, the following was posted:
From Jeff Bennett's blog -
Massachusetts General Law, chapter 48
Section
58. In every town which accepted chapter two hundred and ninety-one of
the General Acts of nineteen hundred and sixteen or chapter one hundred
and forty of the General Acts of nineteen hundred and seventeen, or in
which the provisions of chapter thirty-one were, on April third,
nineteen hundred and seventeen, applicable to the chief of the fire
department thereof, such chief shall hold his office continuously during
good behavior unless incapacitated by physical or mental disability to
perform the duties of his position; provided, that in every such city
the official having the power of appointment, with the consent of the
confirming board, if any, and in every such town, the selectmen, may,
for just cause and for reasons specifically assigned by said official or
selectmen, remove such chief, first giving him a copy of such reasons
and allowing him a reasonable time to answer them in writing. A copy of
the reasons, notice and answer, and of the order of removal, shall be
filed with the town clerk.
posted by Jeff Bennett
The response from the town clerk:
Good Morning Julie,
To date, I have not received any information concerning Chief Ray LaPorte.
Thank you,
Carol A. Harris
Templeton Town Clerk, CMMC
160 Patriots Rd.
P.O. Box 620
E. Templeton, MA 01438
(978) 894-2758 phone
(978) 894-2766 fax
From: Julie Farrell [mailto:j_farrell@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 5:39 AM
To: Town Clerk
Subject:
Hi Carol,
According to MGL chapter 48 section 58 😊
Section 58. In every town which accepted chapter two hundred and ninety-one of the General Acts of nineteen hundred and sixteen or chapter one hundred and forty of the General Acts of nineteen hundred and seventeen, or in which the provisions of chapter thirty-one were, on April third, nineteen hundred and seventeen, applicable to the chief of the fire department thereof, such chief shall hold his office continuously during good behavior unless incapacitated by physical or mental disability to perform the duties of his position; provided, that in every such city the official having the power of appointment, with the consent of the confirming board, if any, and in every such town, the selectmen, may, for just cause and for reasons specifically assigned by said official or selectmen, remove such chief, first giving him a copy of such reasons and allowing him a reasonable time to answer them in writing. A copy of the reasons, notice and answer, and of the order of removal, shall be filed with the town clerk.
Is there a copy of the reasons, notice and answer, and of the order of removal of the Fire Chief on file with your office? If so, could I please have a copy of the reasons, notice and answer, and of the order of removal of the Fire Chief?
Thank you for your help,
Julie Farrell
So the Town clerk does not have a copy of the reasons, notice and answer, and of the removal of the Fire Chief.
Anyone else see a lawsuit coming?
It looks to me like they are fishing around for a reason not to reappoint him. What ever they come out with, it had better be good, or we will have a lawsuit on our hands. Who can blame him ? Not me. He did everything he was supposed to, plus more.
ReplyDeleteThe Selectmen are supposed to work for the "good of the town." It does not look good for us.
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ReplyDeleteIf the Fire Chief was hired under a contract and his contract is done there should be no reason to justify not renewing the contract. He was not removed his contract was up.
ReplyDeleteYou would think that the Administration would let the people in this town know what was going on in regard to our Fire Chief. The older people in this town do not need the anxiety of not knowing who will come if they need help.
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