Updated, Oct. 25
The town of Tisbury and Fire Chief Greg Leland are parting ways starting next week following a months-long investigation into complaints against the Chief.
After a lengthy executive session on Thursday evening at town hall in Vineyard Haven, town administrator Jay Grande said that “Chief Leland will conclude his employment with the town on Monday, October 28th and there are no further comments.”
Leland and Grande would not comment further when approached by a reporter after the executive session on Thursday. But in a statement Leland emailed on Friday morning, the chief said that he intends to take legal action against the town.
“The Board determined to terminate my services as Fire Chief. This was done without cause and in violation of my employment contract. I intend to pursue legal action to enforce my contract,” Leland’s statement reads.
Leland has been on paid administrative leave since July while the town investigated the management and operations of the fire department under the chief following a number of complaints. The details of those complaints have yet to be publicized, but records obtained by The Times indicate that the town was investigating allegations of mismanagement and harassment.
From July until early October, copies of invoices obtained through a records request show that the town has paid Boston-based KP (Kopelman and Paige) Law at least $24,247.68 to investigate the allegations; Leland has been paid roughly $45,000 through his regular salary while on leave during the same time.
The town select board has been meeting in numerous executive sessions regarding Leland’s employment since July.
Leland was promoted to chief in 2020 after serving as the assistant chief for the two years prior.
In his statement Friday morning, he said that the town is treating him unfairly despite his service helping residents and businesses.
“I have dedicated my years as Fire Chief to the Town, going above and beyond the call of duty,” the statement said. “I have shown this dedication in many ways, working to save a business on Memorial Day weekend from closure by stopping the spread of fire and preventing further damage to the structure without closing the business, at Haven Side apartments I evacuated all residents from a burning building without back up and extinguished a fully involved kitchen fire with multiple extinguishers prior to any other member’s response. I have worked to professionalize the department and hold employees accountable, which is likely the cause of my termination. I am confident I will prevail in the end but am disappointed at the lack of fairness that has been shown to me in this process.”
Patrick Rolston has been the town’s acting fire chief in Leland’s absence.
This post was updated with a quote from Tisbury town administrator Jay Grande.
Leland has an employment agreement which likely doesnt include the ”without cause” sentence. Tisbury will invoke the ”cause” sentence and they will both go to court but there will be discovery meetings first and a lot of information will change hands. Then both parties will agree to arbitration and Leland will agree to 50 percent of what he is entitled to. If Leland doesnt go to arbitration and chooses trial and loses he will have to pay Tisbury legal fees. If he does go to trial and wins he will not only get his contract renumeration but Tisbury will be out lots of litigation fees. Better that Tisbury pay him what he is entitled to in the contract and end all this now.
What is he entitled to?
What is the reason for his separation?
Should the Town just pay off everyone who sues them.
Money over principle?
The town administrator has multiple problems everywhere he goes he steps in it, he doesn’t know the law and over steps as he steps in it. Thank god he’s leave good ridence.
What did he do?
What did the 24K investigation reveal?
Does he still have ‘Conservative’ support?
Why is this being kept under cover??
A huge stink?
To protect his victims?
To protect others?
Wondering why so many newspapers now report that someone is “considering legal action”? It means nothing. As a reporter in the last century, we were strictly instructed to wait till they actually filed suit, ie, put money where mouth is.
Does anyone know the cause of this firing? Why the secrecy?
Hess. Personnel issues are always confidential and they should be. The public is not entitled to know why someone is on suspension or fired. Are you entitled to know everything that is in say, Keller’s file over the last 50 years? No, government employees get this protection as do all of us. I am surprised you dont know this since you are ubiquitous on this site.
engleman.
The public has every right to know if their was malfeasance involved, moral turpitude.
This is not a voluntary separation.
Why is it happening?
We the people deserve to know.
This is America.
Government transparency.
You should know that.
You are so ubiquitous this site.
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