<p>In a hastily called emergency session, Oak Bluffs selectmen met Saturday with approximately 35 members of the fire and EMT staff.</p>
In a hastily called emergency session, Oak Bluffs selectmen met Saturday with approximately 35 members of the Oak Bluffs fire and EMT staff, one day after the announcement that fire chief John Rose would resign his post.
Selectman Brian Packish at Jan. 14 meeting, one of many called to address fire department issues in recent weeks.
Selectman Brian Packish at Jan. 14 meeting, one of many called to address fire department issues in recent weeks.
Speaking to the Gazette by phone Sunday, board chairman Brian Packish said the meeting was called to give members of the department the opportunity to speak with the board.
“We had a meeting with the command staff just to meet with them face to face, and answer any questions, concerns, talk about what the future might look like, things of that nature,” Mr. Packish said.
“We just figured under the circumstances that we didn’t want those guys to not have any information or an audience directly with us.”
The emergency meeting was posted at 3:15 Friday afternoon, according to a notice attached to the town hall door. The agenda listed “discussion of the fire department” as its only item. The meeting was not posted online.
Notice of emergency meeting was posted at the town hall Friday afternoon, but not online.
Notice of emergency meeting was posted at the town hall Friday afternoon, but not online.
Mr. Packish said the meeting lasted between 45 minutes and an hour. Chief Rose was not present, he said.
He said all five selectmen attended the meeting, along with town administrator Bob Whritenour. According to Mr. Packish, command staff and volunteers within the department asked questions about the future.
“There was no real action taken at this point and time,” Mr. Packish said. “It was more just an opportunity to put the board and the command staff in one room and to reconnect, reset, and begin a new conversation about what the future is.”
He said the meeting was intended to offer a relief valve to a department that has been under intense scrutiny for weeks.
“It’s been a pressure cooker,” he said.
Chief Rose will resign effective April 30, according to the announcement that went out Friday afternoon.
Mr. Packish was vague about whether Chief Rose has actually returned to work, referring only to the Friday press statement that went out.
“His resignation is his resignation,” the selectman said. “It’s one of those situations where it just plays out the way it plays out. He’s available to help with the transition and things of that nature.”
Comments
Good idea and good job. Fire
Sara Oak Bluffs/Portland MEGood idea and good job. Fire Department has been a maelstrom for a while; let's hope this is the beginning of a new era. Can't let personalities and questionable behavior occlude the important jobs these folks do.
they are all nervous because
Steve Falmouththey are all nervous because they are under FBI investigation. Don't blame them
I don’t for a minute doubt
Proud to be from OB MVI don’t for a minute doubt John Rose’s ability to be properly commanding of a scene or to quickly and thoughtfully administer care when needed. And for giggles, successfully intervene when a State Trooper was assaulted. He is an excellent technician. But this does not a manager make. I wish him well in retirement and hope that OB will seek out someone with both technical and managerial skills as his successor.
Brian Packish has acted so
JustaguyBrian Packish has acted so unprofessionally throughout this entire process. I feel sorry for the town of oak bluffs. I hope they get some new leadership in there come April.
Brian Packish has shown
T Bone Oak BluffsBrian Packish has shown leadership. Something the other selectmen and town manager have failed miserably at. The others tried to hide the whole Rose thing under the small town rug. Brian knew wrong when he saw it, and dealt with it.
If you are going to post a
John Gault Oak BluffsIf you are going to post a statement about Brian acting unprofessionally you should state those acts, and not make misleading accusations.
YES! YOUVE HIT THE NAIL ON
Nick EdgartownYES! YOUVE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
Where was this meeting posted
FedUP Oak BluffsWhy wasn’t this meeting posted more in advance? Aren’t they supposed to give 48 hours. And why wasn’t it posted online or more people made aware it was public meeting. This seems incredibly unprofessional. And why did the selectman go to the papers before the Chief even had a chance to address all of us on the department? This mess they’ve created is being so mishandled.
There under investigation
Emtwhoknows WTThere under investigation because EMTs were filling out the medical reason for transport. not the nurses at the hospital, on the paperwork required for Medicare.
Basically they were making sure there was a medical need for the ambulance even if there wasn’t one, therefore illegal billing and Medicaid and Medicare fraud.
Are you the FBI? Or one of
JustaguyAre you the FBI? Or one of the Selectman? If not why would you know this information before anyone else does and have the unprofessionalism to share it here. If you were one interviewed are you really at liberty to be discussing that information under an alias on a newspaper? It doesn’t look great for the FBI that the findings of their investigation are being announced by an EMT from West Tisbury on the comment section of a newspaper. That doesn’t reflect well at all on the West Tisbury department either.
I have to agree, this shouldn
J.T EdgartownI have to agree, this shouldn’t be discussed here if no one has been charged yet and the public doesn’t know exact specifications. Those who are involved in an active investigation should not be at liberty to discuss it publicly. In my opinion that information should only come from the FBI themselves when their investigation has been finished.
Thank to the Board of
Leadership at last Oak bluffsThank to the Board of Selectmen for finally demonstrating leadership! The harm caused to our Town beyond the ridiculous amount of money is sad at best. Thank you Mr. Packish you will have my vote and most of the people’s votes that I know come April!
"It's one of those situations
M West Tisbury"It's one of those situations where it just plays out the way it plays out." -Brian Packish
What does that mean, exactly? This isn't a hurricane. This is a public relations dumpster fire, created by crazy people. If selectmen are going to bend over for the noisiest wingnuts in town, they should at least get some better talking points to explain themselves.
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