Breaking: Dalton Fire Chief Suspended, Tenders Resignation
DALTON, Mass. — The fire chief has been suspended for a month over allegations of sexual harassment, grant overspending and "employee concerns."
Chief Christian Tobin countered with a thick packet of documents alleging "unlawful departmental practices."
The claims came during a contentious Board of Water Commissioners meeting on Thursday morning that lasted about 25 minutes.
The board voted unanimously to voted to place Tobin on four weeks of paid administrative leave and Tobin, hired in January, said he'd be gone by the end of the year.
The meeting had been posted with an unusual agenda item: to discuss complaints against the chief.
Ordinarily, meetings to discuss "complaints" against an individual are held during executive sessions, and the individual's name is not included in the agenda.
By the request of Tobin, however, the meeting was held as an open session.
Tobin, who did not speak, accuses the district of illegal wages and hour practices, unlawful public meetings, improper safety practices and employee medical and respiratory protection, the misuse of district credit card funds, falsification of records for personal or others' benefit, and among others.
The board says it is investigating claims of harassment from three women who say they have been yelled at and sexually harassed, the hiring of ambulance personnel who are not qualified emergency medical technicians, employee complaints about conduct toward them and grant overspending.
The Fire District welcomed Tobin to the department in January following an approximately nine-month search. More information here.
The search stemmed from the firing of one chief, the retirement of another, and the departure of a third. More information here.
This story is developing.
