BOURNE – Embattled Bourne Fire Chief Norman Sylvester is responding to charges made by the firefighters’ union of his leadership of the department, calling them “baseless” and “outlandish.”
In a letter to Bourne Town Administrator Tom Guerino and the Board of Selectmen, members of the local 1717 voted “no confidence” in the Chief, referencing over a dozen claims of poor decision making, putting firefighter safety at risk, and lack of leadership.
“Most you knew I was going to retire by the end of June, or the first of July. I will not resign and I want to make that clear,” Chief Sylvester said.
“I have nothing to hide. I don’t hide. I’m extremely transparent. But, when I read in the paper that I’m resigning, like I had something to hide, I take exception to that. I’m retiring. I was retiring. I said it to the chairman yesterday, ‘I will be your chief from the next 12 years if you want me.’”
Sylvester publicly responded at an April 30 board of selectmen’s meeting, pointing out the support he’s received from the Barnstable County Fire Cheifs Association and the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts.
Chief Sylvester penned a nine-page letter to selectmen, addressing each of the 12 accusations individually. He did not respond to individual questions on the accusations from selectmen at the meeting.
“You are hearing this from me. The number of people who called me, businesses, business owners, to tell me to stay, that ‘you’re doing what’s right,’ is the reason I’m staying here, to make a change and to make a difference,” Sylvester said.
By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com News Center
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