Crossed The Line

I don't think I have ever made a stand in favor of any particular person here in town before.  Yes, I've given my opinion about how I feel a person has performed, or has been treated, but never have I stood for, or against, the whole person.

Today, I will.

In August of 2000 I came to live in Sturbridge.  The first neighbor I met was Vernon Jackson.  "Butch", as he has always gone by, welcomed me to town in his own quiet style.  Butch is a quiet man, a loyal, and caring man.  He loves this town with all his heart, in fact, he was born right in a house on the Town Common.  Since that time, he served his country,  married the love of his life, had three children, and a whole bunch of grandchildren.  He has also been in each, and every home around the common, and elsewhere in town, helping with repairs, lending a tool, and his expertise.  Without out so much as a wince, he lent me tools, and his know how to help in my rehab of the house I once lived in.  He never expected anything in return, but instead he would invite me, and others to his house on the lake for a cookout.  He never asked for anything in return. He only gave.

He has been there to lend a hand, and to help, no matter what life has thrown your way, all his life.  That's just the kind of man he is.  Never negative.

One thing that I enjoyed hearing from Butch was the love of the towns fire department.  He was a Captain, had been on the department for decades,  and played Santa at Christmas time on the common.  His love for people showed in his commitment to keep them safe as a firefighter.

I had grown up in a town where a large group of us "townies" had begun to serve as volunteers on the fire, and police department at an early age.  I recognized the commitment, and love for the job Butch did at the fire department immediately.   That loyalty to the department, and his commitment to make others safe at risk to his own safety has only heightened my respect for Butch.

If you have ever had contact with the man, then you know I speak the truth, and if anything, I have not spoken highly enough of him.

Now, the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, has had Butch terminated from his civilian position of Assistant to the Fire Chief he has held since January because, according to Butch, how he spoke up, and questioned the methodology, and conclusions of the report written by the consultant hired by the town.  He has also been accused of harassment by Tom Creamer.

"Harassment".   Really?  Butch Jackson?  I don't think so.  Explain this to me.

In addition to the debacle we have seen regarding our Fire Chief, and the recent announcement that he is retiring ASAP, we have the Chairman firing Butch in closed door session of the BOS.

Enough.  Now, I'm pissed.

Article published May 11, 2013 Veteran Sturbridge officer slams fire report Chief ousted after document released By Jim Russell CORRESPONDENT STURBRIDGE —  A longtime worker for the Sturbridge Fire Department is questioning the motives behind a controversial consultant study that resulted in the indefinite suspension of the town's fire chief. Vernon L. “Butch” Jackson, 77, a lifelong Sturbridge resident, claims the report is part of an effort by Thomas Creamer, chairman of selectmen, to reform the town's fire agency, but which instead is creating turmoil in the fire department and the town. Mr. Jackson also maintains that he was removed from his civilian position with the fire department because of his criticisms of the report's methodology and conclusions. Mr. Jackson served the fire department since 1952 and was captain for 36 years, until November. He was a civilian assistant to the fire chief from January until April 22. Mr. Jackson, of 10 Charlton St., is critical of the fire department study, which was completed March 28 by consultant Ernest Horn. In an interview, Mr. Jackson said the consultant asked his opinion the first week in April, after the study was published. The Horn report includes details of the department's organizational structure, noting there is a chief, a captain, seven full-time firefighters, 19 call firefighters and a part-time clerk, but it does not mention the assistant-to-the-chief role Mr. Jackson provided. In his “Fire Department Report/Operational Study 2013” to selectmen, Mr. Horn accused Sturbridge Fire Chief Leonard Senecal of a failure in leadership, saying numerous problems included “deplorable and negligent” equipment maintenance and “extremely poor morale” in the department. Chief Senecal says he has worked diligently to fix inadequacies. He says no deaths from fires in Sturbridge have occurred since 1984, and that no firefighter has been injured because of equipment failure at a scene. As with all department heads, he said, he has been under constant pressure to keep expenses down. Mr. Jackson said Mr. Horn showed potential bias by not contacting him until after the report was provided to selectmen. He said Mr. Horn telephoned him two days before the selectmen's April 5 public release of the report. Mr. Horn has refused to disclose with whom he spoke on the fire department. Selectman Mary Dowling had publicly pressed Mr. Horn for specifics, wanting to see responses to questions, to know whom he had talked to and what they said. At the April 16 selectmen's meeting, the consultant told Ms. Dowling the information was confidential. The selectman told Mr. Horn that made it impossible for her to verify information in his report. Mr. Jackson said he asked Mr. Horn about whether those who inspected the fire vehicles were properly trained, licensed and certified. He was not satisfied with Mr. Horn's responses. Mr. Jackson said when Mr. Horn telephoned him in April, he told Mr. Horn “morale was good” among the call firefighters. He said their conversation lasted about five minutes. The Horn report states there is “a complete lack of a successive command structure in the absence of a ranking department officer.” Mr. Jackson said that is untrue, that the chain of command was clearly written down and posted on the bulletin board. Mr. Jackson's civilian job with the fire department ended when selectmen axed him during a closed-door meeting April 22. Mr. Jackson said he was not informed by Mr. Suhoski or by selectmen that he was on the agenda for that meeting and was told after the meeting his job was gone. “When you do it behind closed doors and not even tell me, it is cowardly; it is illegal,” Mr. Jackson said. The retired captain said Mr. Creamer, instead of the town administrator, initiated an investigation of him involving an unsubstantiated “harassment” allegation. With the heading “Harassment,” Mr. Creamer sent an email April 11 directing Chief Senecal and Mr. Suhoski to investigate Mr. Jackson. “I have received a number of complaints suggesting that a civilian employee of the fire department — recently retired due to age well beyond the state mandate — is engaged in what has been described as `harassment' of on-duty members with respect to the study conducted by an independent subject matter expert … Please review this matter,” Mr. Creamer wrote. Records show that only one of the other four selectmen was copied on the Creamer email. Mr. Jackson said the investigation was retaliation. He said Mr. Creamer wanted to silence him for questioning the qualifications, methodology and conclusions in the Horn report. Mr. Creamer “is out of control. He is an embarrassment to the people of Sturbridge. He just does things regardless of the law. I can't figure out why. To serve 60 years and get thrown out like this is a disgrace,” the retired fire captain said. In a lengthy telephone interview this week, Mr. Creamer responded to Mr. Jackson's statements, saying it may have been a mistake to rescind his civilian position with the fire department during executive session and that the action should have occurred in public view. Mr. Suhoski said, “There is no exemption (to the state's open meeting law) that allows you to rescind an appointment in executive session — I have to take responsibility for that — it was a six-month appointment.” Mr. Creamer also said it was a mistake to have hired Mr. Jackson for the civilian role in January, saying, “Quite frankly, the creation of this position was a mistake on my part.” Asked if the harassment allegation had been substantiated, he said: “To my knowledge they were not,” adding, “I personally made no claims of harassment. I forwarded that to the town administrator.” The chairman said: “A number of individuals … said they were subject to what they called harassment. … The individuals themselves did not want to come forward because they were concerned about repercussions.” Mr. Creamer said his leadership is bearing fruit. “If you fix the problem head-on, you are always going to be accused of creating turmoil. I wish other selectmen and other town administrators created some turmoil,” he said. “Butch is entitled to his opinion. He served 12 years beyond his retirement,” Mr. Creamer said. “What's a disgrace is that since 2001, other boards of selectmen, former town administrators and the chief” looked the other way. “That to me is the aspect of someone being cowardly, partly because no one wants to upset anybody's feelings and hold anyone accountable to state laws. This board took action,” he said. Selectmen Vice Chairman Priscilla Gimas said Mr. Jackson “is sour grapes against the study,” adding: “if he was truly dedicated to the fire service, he would be worried about what should be done.” Mr. Suhoski said action on Chief Senecal's future is expected during a closed-door meeting Monday.  Order the Telegram & Gazette, delivered daily to your home or office! www.telegram.com/homedelivery Copyright 2013 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp.