Updated Jan. 15
Tuesday night, Oak Bluffs selectmen confirmed that Fire Chief John Rose was suspended without pay for 21 days after having “engaged in a personal relationship with a directly reporting subordinate and not being truthful about that when asked.”
At a widely anticipated meeting that drew dozens of people, the public got its first window into how the issue of Rose divided the board of selectmen, and had at least one board member convinced he should be fired.
Last week, the town confirmed it had reached a $97,500 settlement with Cynthia Hatt, a former fire department administrator who accused the chief of sexual harassment in a lawsuit and a Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) complaint. Both of those were dropped as part of the settlement.
In her MCAD complaint, Hatt accused Rose of “relentlessly sexually harassing her and creating a hostile work environment.” The complaint accuses Rose of making inappropriate comments about her appearance, Rose putting his locker in the women’s locker room, and the town turning a blind eye to the chief’s personal relationships, but investigating Hatt for her personal relationships.
Reading from a prepared statement, selectman chair Brian Packish informed the audience crowded into the Oak Bluffs library meeting room that in late October 2019, selectmen and Rose agreed to a performance action plan drafted by town administrator Robert Whritenour.
The plan was aimed at five specific areas of concern in the way the chief managed the fire and ambulance departments: personal relationships within the department, collective bargaining relationships, staffing issues, financial issues, and structural issues.
Rose’s suspension was served in one-week increments during the months of November, December, and January. Rose told The Times he was on “vacation” during one of the weeks he served. The action plan called for Rose to seek counseling services with the Employee Assistance Program. It also called for Rose’s removal from office for any future instances of inappropriate relationships with subordinates, or any future instances of untruthfulness with town officials during investigations.
While no fault or blame was assigned to Rose in what Packish stated was a “tumultuous relationship” with the new union in the ambulance department, Rose committed to attend training sessions on management, labor relations, and leadership. Rose agreed to “demonstrate affirmative initiative in implementing the collective bargaining agreement and attempting to develop teamwork to solve problems and accomplish tasks,” Packish said.
Concerning financial issues, Rose committed to conduct a full cost analysis of the ambulance service, and to prepare for negotiations with the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital regarding the cost of providing services and revenues collected. The Ambulance Reserve Fund has declined to “dangerously low levels,” according to the action plan.
Other staffing issues required Rose to implement a plan to increase fire department recruitment for full-time staff members. A lack of qualified full-time staff has caused an over-reliance on part-time, per diem shifts, and creates instability in the workforce, according to the action plan.
The final part of the plan listed hiring an EMS assistant chief/EMS coordinator. On recommendations from a consultant’s study, it was recommended the EMS assistant chief and coordinator position be created.
Per the action plan, Rose must submit progress reports concerning the outlined goals. He must submit a formal report to selectmen no less than every six months.
According to the action plan, if Rose failed to improve or meet the agreed-upon goals, he would be subject to “reassignment, demotion, or dismissal.”
The selectmen’s statement also addressed the ongoing federal investigation into the town’s fire department. Packish confirmed the existence of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston, adding that the FBI has interviewed “a number of individuals” on the Island, several grand jury subpoenas have been issued, and the investigation concerns billing practices in the ambulance department. The town agreed to credit back a combined $37,535.07 in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements it allegedly overcharged in reimbursements.
“As far as we know, the investigation concerns certain billing practices of the ambulance department. Specifically, a concern has been expressed that Medicare and Medicaid may have been overbilled for off-Island ambulance transports. This appears to be the focus of the investigation,” Packish read.
Packish went on to say no one has been charged, care from town EMS providers has not been compromised, there is no suggestion of “self-dealing or diversion of funds,” and the town is conducting an investigation of its own.
“We have determined that errors were made in billing Medicare and Medicaid for certain ambulance runs,” Packish said, adding that the town is working its private ambulance billing company, Comstar.
Executive session minutes reveal divide
After an executive session lasting more than two hours Tuesday, selectmen also agreed to release several sets of executive session minutes relating to Rose.
The first came from a June 19 executive session that Rose requested to talk about negative rumors regarding the fire department. Rose admitted to selectmen he made a mistake by lying to them concerning an “inappropriate relationship,” but said the department is doing “well and strong,” according to the minutes.
At the June meeting, Packish asked how the selectmen could “defend [Rose’s] reputation given the current social situation, how anyone could keep his job.”
The allegations against Rose and his admission of an inappropriate relationship come as politicians, business leaders, and Hollywood executives have been under the microscope of the #MeToo movement — with men like Harvey Weinstein, Al Franken, and Matt Lauer being forced out or fired as a result of allegations.
According to the minutes, selectman Michael Santoro said references to Weinstein and Bill Cosby were “a little out of line,” adding that the selectmen were not judging Rose, and that it was a “he said, she said” situation.
Selectman Greg Coogan defended the chief, saying he is a “great EMT, a hard worker, and working hard to be a good chief.”
Six days later at a June 25 executive session, selectmen discussed dismissing Rose from duty.
Citing his low tolerance for lying and difficulty believing anything a person says once they have lied to him, Packish said he no longer had confidence in the chief, and asked to have a vote to dismiss so that he could “vote yes.”
Coogan moved to not dismiss Rose, which was seconded by Santoro.
Selectman Jason Balboni, according to the minutes, said he was not comfortable with the amount of information to make a decision on Rose’s dismissal.
Santoro said Rose was only in front of the selectmen because he lied to them about an “inappropriate consensual relationship with a female employee,” and that it did not involve professional competence. Selectman Gail Barmakian disagreed, and felt professional competence was part of it, but that the challenge remaining was how to “restore the reputation of the town and Chief Rose.”
“The chief has always maintained an excellent private and professional reputation,” Barmakian said. “This was an inappropriate relationship between consenting adults, it is not against a bylaw, but it is inappropriate, unwise, and not good judgment.”
According to a complaint filed by Cynthia Hatt with the Massachuestts Commission Against Discrimination in May 2019, Hatt gave in to sexual advances from Rose due to her vulnerable physical and mental state. After the affair stopped, she was sexually harassed and retaliated against once she refused Rose’s sexual advances, according to her MCAD complaint.
Coogan said Rose made a mistake, and cited the difficulties of working and living in a small town, according to the minutes.
“John works hard, does a good job with the situation he has, the difficulty of finding the help he needs. Some form of discipline is necessary, but he is not in favor of firing him. It needs to be made clear that he made a mistake and the town is paying for it. He will be paying for it by sharing his duties. The town will move on, they need to understand that the board reviewed the case, decided the chief made a mistake, but that he is a worthwhile human being,” Coogan said. He added that an agreement could be worked out with the chief to serve a suspension in the fall.
Selectmen did not approve releasing minutes from the Sept. 10 executive session meeting, but at a Sept. 24 executive session, selectmen met with Rose to discuss a suspension. Whritenour and selectmen originally discussed having Rose serve a 30-day suspension. According to the executive session minutes, Rose acknowledged his lapse in judgment concerning the relationship with a direct subordinate, “but said he had 22 years of service to the town without any disciplinary problems, and suggested that 30 days seemed harsh.”
While it drew a large crowd, people slowly began to leave as the meeting that began at 4 pm with a two-hour executive session stretched on until 8 pm. During the public comment portion at the end of the meeting, several residents expressed concern about Rose. Rich Weiss, a member of the town’s finance committee and an EMT, questioned the board about its decision to suspend the chief.
Susan Desmarais read a statement asking to put together a committee to study the town’s sexual harassment reforms. Packish directed both to the selectmen’s prepared statement and the released executive session minutes.
Parks commissioner Amy Billings was blunt with her comment. “I hope that this board does something soon,” she said. “Because it’s getting pretty embarrassing to live in Oak Bluffs.”
Timeline
- May 23: Cynthia Hatt filed a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint against Rose with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).
- July 19: Hatt filed a complaint in Barnstable Superior Court saying she was denied comp time after she rejected sexual advances from Rose. The complaint was dismissed a week later.
- Sept. 10: Selectmen signed a settlement agreement during an executive session, agreeing to pay Hatt $97,500 through the town’s insurance agency. Both parties admitted no fault, and Hatt dropped her MCAD complaint.
- Sept. 24: Selectmen vote 4-1 in executive session to suspend Fire Chief John Rose for three weeks over three months without pay, due to having an “inappropriate relationship” with a subordinate and lying about it. Barmakian voted no.
- Sept. 24: During the open session, town administrator Robert Whritenour acknowledges the town overcharged the federal government $37,535.07 in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements through its off-Island ambulance run billing company, Comstar.
- Late October 2019: Selectmen and Rose agree to a performance action plan aimed at addressing five areas of concern.
- Dec. 31: The Times confirms the FBI is investigating issues at the fire department.
- Jan. 9: The $97,500 settlement document between Hatt and the town is released.
- Jan. 14: Selectmen release several executive session minutes from 2019, confirm ambulance billing mistakes were made, and confirm the FBI investigation was looking into ambulance billing practices.
Updated to include timeline of events, information performance action plan, and information from MCAD complaint. — Ed.
I am frightened for the future of our town. Why is this ok here? On mainland this would have never even drawn out or acceptable. It may be time to relocate, so sad.
It’s time to relocate our spineless selectmen.
What makes you think it wouldn’t happen off island? Men run stuff there too.
It may be time to relocate? Your kidding – No Way, maybe you but it is about time for ALL the island citizens to stop all this PC, good old boys, corrupt stuff and “Drain all the Swamps” on our entire island once and for all!!
So Santoro and Coogan are the dudes cool with locker room antics? Disgusting. And, I give major kudos to Brian Packish, and offer my heartfelt apologies for my earlier presumptions — I was wrong. Stand your ground Brian, the town is with you. As for Santoro and Coogan — I’m hopeful OB voters remember “the boys” when the ballot box comes around. We need leaders who represent all of us, not just the testosterone studs.
Yes, it sounds like the Coogan family has supported the wrong type of leadership… that’s not the first time, and it is happening in other places on the island. When will we clean up our Police, Fire, and school systems, and drop leaders (Santoro, Coogan, Rose, D’Andrea) that are just not up to the job?
Kuddos to you, Brian Packish!!! I must admit I wasn’t a supporter before but now I’ll be a steadfast supporter of you!!!
Just to provide a second opinion to how this article can be perceived….the selectman made a objective and rational decision based on the facts at hand. There was a consensual relationship between two adults and all allegations and claims were dropped. The selectman suspended the a Chief for three weeks and gave him a performance plan to work toward’s. As the article stated, no prior write ups or reprimands we’re ever given and a personal consensual adult relationship while frowned upon, is separate from his job performance as a paramedic and fire chief. Stop saying the selectman don’t do their jobs correctly and need to be fired, just because they don’t make decisions based on island gossip and accusations, claims and ongoing investigations that no one has any idea yet what they’re about, all I can say is thank god there are well educated individuals making these decisions.
Second that. Cooler heads prevailed here.
Great islander64 & Mack and the boys — you guys can pay the $97,500 settlement with Cynthia Hatt and the lawyers fee(s) — Deal or No Deal?? (Not via our taxes!)
As stated in previous comments, the towns insurance policy will be paying the settlement. Which is why they have it in the first place. These situations happen often and are incredibly complicated and the only individuals that know all the necessary facts and information to make an objective decision are the selectman, that were elected by voters. They are not here to take action based on island gossip and allegations or claims people write on the internet. They are here to consider both sides and make an educated plan of action which clearly in this article is exactly what they did. I realize the policy could go up but get the facts completely straight before spreading the wrong information.
Islander64,have you ever filed an insurance claim? What happens is,yes the insurance company pays out,but the because you filed a claim,the cost of your policy goes up. And guess who that cost increase gets passed on to…
Fielding Mellish thank you for the thoughtful lesson on how insurance works, I’m actually well educated on the process. However, try reading comments and articles thoroughly and all the way through before commenting back to someone it could go a long way in really understanding things better instead of automatically being on the attack right off the bat. At the end of my comment, I said that I knew the insurance policy would go up and I’m aware taxes pay for the policy. However, this situation is why the policy exist and that is the way government operates. If you have issues with that, I’m not sure I can help you, but I agree it could maybe be a better system.
When one is a secretary and one is the Chief – they are by definition – not on equal footing. Wake the heck up.
This is a small-town fire department we’re talking about, not Miramax. I understand the risks of a power imbalance in a relationship, but some commenters need to dial down the rhetoric here.
Your excuses for this behavior are incredible. Is harassment at Miramax worse than if it took place at OBFD? I don’t understand your logic. Using your power to intimidate is wrong. Anywhere. And I don’t think you understand the risks of a “power imbalance”.
Again, power imbalance is one thing and why these relationships are frowned upon. However both admitting to being willing participants, both should bear the responsibility of the consequences. There’s no proof to say he used his power to intimidate anyone they were all “claims” and “allegations” that were dropped and the public doesn’t know the behind the scenes details of all of it. And four the 5000000 time. Harvey Weinstein is accused of rape, sexual intimidation, sexual misconduct, exposing himself, etc etc. It is so incomparable to this situation it’s not even funny. Be upset that the relationship happened, fine, that’s your right. But stop comparing it to illegal crimes.
Please do explain the difference to us.
I knew the police dept in OB was sleazy, but now all this from the fire dept? If nothing bad happened why pay this woman $97,000? You don’t have to “admit” anything for it to be obvious this individual did something wrong. Then he lied about it. And now we have the FBI investigating the same dept??? It’s wrong to pass judgment without knowing ALL the facts but I have to say it seems like OB has some serious problems and the selectmen are protecting a friend. Men protecting men…again. Ugh. How embarrassing will it be for the selectmen if the FBI decides to indict this guy for yet another transgression!?
Well, now we know who needs to be thrown out of office ASAP. Mr Coogan and Mr Santoro need to go, along with Rose and Writenour. Where is the rub? Why are these guys going to bat for such a miscreant? Something is going on. There has to be a benefit Santoro and Coogan are receiving from Rose. I have no idea but, I’ll bet dimes to donuts there is a quid pro quo here somewhere.
Easy money. Sue the town who has insurance to pick up the tab. I wonder if Chilmark has the same insurance.
I agree Islanduh. Why is Writenour even here? Didn’t Falmouth kick him out?
If you believe that any municipal employee may have acted in any conflict of interest, you can file a complaint with the State Ethics Commission at http://www.mass.gov and they will investigate. Congrats to Brian Packish for not putting serious allegations and dishonesty by a public servant lower than small town politics
in importance. “He said, she said” is a childish and unproductive response to serious allegations.
You don’t have all the facts to make a fair decisions on this matter is my point. I guess if you think a consensual adult relationship, (which the woman in this scenario openly admitted that it was a consensual relationship if you read other articles) is the same as Harvey Weinstein who actually has rape, sexual assault, sexual misconduct charges against him, with dozens of women or Bill Cosby who drugged and raped over 300 women, which I’m appalled and disgusted that the selectmen were even allowed to make reference to this, is the same as an ONE MCAD complaint which was DROPPED and all were omitted of wrongdoing, then there is something seriously wrong with your rational mind. Educate yourself on something before you spread mis information that is extremely harmful to others. And before anyone jumps down my throat, I am not saying that this woman isn’t telling the truth so I want to make that perfectly clear. BUT I would like to point out, that there has to be a fair process where both sides are thoroughly looked at for the protection of everyone involved not just one person, and the public doesn’t have access to all the information regarding an issue like this when that happens. You can believe the gossip, hearsay, or whatever else but that it all it is. In my own personal opinion, if there was substantial proof of retaliation, wrongdoing and the excessive harassment outlined in these articles, by only one party and it was proved that this was never a consensual relationship, I don’t think parties would have settled this easily and it would have gotten pushed a lot further. All that has been given to us is “allegations” that were dropped, which I think says a lot.
Total embarrassment, plain and simple. How can we not feel ashamed about how the Town Administrator, Selectmen, and Fire Chief, were able to transform this small New England village into the governing mess that it is today. We frivolously spend tax payers money to battle parking space zoning issues, rent unused mobile trailers for an non-renovated Town Hall, allow a Town Official to embarrass us for years and keep his position, and now an FBI investigation into fraud. Did I miss anything? All of you should be ashamed of yourselves, again, plain and simple. Let us ask our community, Is this the best we can do?
It seems that there is merit to what several commentators have indicated in regard to due process given to the fire chief. It does not excuse the disgusting and deplorable behavior exhibited by him while being paid by the tax payers of the town. It should be stated that Mr. Whritenour should have started a paper trail on Mr. Rose years ago when the behavior began to get noticed. It is entirely on the BOS and Whritenour and they will be responsible for the negligent retention of Rose in his current position as chief. I’m sure there will be more uncovered as things move forward.
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