MARSHFIELD – Questions surrounding the circumstances of former Marshfield Fire Chief Jeffrey Simpson’s ouster still remain unanswered, one month after the town’s select board declined to renew or extend his contract, though public documents give a hint at one big disagreement.

When contacted by phone Tuesday, Simpson had little else to say besides this: “I’m moving on.”

The Patriot Ledger attempted to ask Simpson for details about why he was let go as fire chief. He either declined to go into detail or expressed bewilderment.

“I’m in just as much shock as anyone else,” he said. 

Simpson, who signed a separation agreement with the town March 19 after nearly three years in the role, said it has been a “very emotional time for me” and challenging for his family, the residents and the fire personnel under his direction. But, he added, he doesn’t have any regrets about how things ended up and holds no hard feelings.

More: Why is Marshfield fire chief being let go? What the union says in its complaint

“I’ll continue to do what I think is best. It’s not about money. It’s not about fame. It’s not about power. It’s about people. It always will be,” he said. “I always did what I thought was right and just. I’ll continue to do that as long as I live. I’m not going to change who I am.”

He declined to comment when asked for more specifics, including if there was someone asking him to go against what he thought was right; the details of two executive sessions with the town’s select board earlier this year during which a complaint against the fire chief was discussed; and the select board’s discussion of the fire department’s response during a winter storm.

As part of the separation agreement, Simpson, the select board and the town administrator agreed to not “disparage, denigrate or provide negative comments” about one another. But the select board and town administrator can “discuss any legitimate operational concerns not intended to disparage Chief Simpson.” The town administrator has previously declined to discuss personnel matters.

Simpson, who had spent three decades with the Norwell Fire Department prior to leading Marshfield’s, said he was going to take a “long pause” before making his next move. 

“I will return,” he said. "I’ll be stronger than ever."

Public record requests submitted by The Ledger, The Boston Globe and Marshfield residents that were publicly available as of Tuesday shed an inkling of light on a purported precursor to and aftermath of his departure.

The fire department’s response to a recent winter storm was discussed during the March 12 meeting where the town’s three select board members ultimately voted to let Simpson go. Board Chair Jim Kilcoyne and Vice Chair Lynne Fidler alluded to fire personnel not assisting with other town departments.

About 10 days after the Dec. 18 storm swept through the region with high winds and rain, Town Administrator Michael Maresco sent an email to select board members and the town counsel to give a summary of a meeting with the town’s emergency management director, Police Lt. Artie Shaw.

See the pictures: December 2023 storm wreaks havoc on South Shore

The Department of Public Works was “extremely helpful” in helping police with road closures, but there were issues with the fire department, Maresco wrote in the Dec. 27 email. Shaw reached out to one of the fire department’s shift commanders but did not get a call back, meaning the department ultimately didn’t help police or public works with the response.

“It was later learned that the Fire Department was not going to send any personnel to help at the down power lines and tree areas,” Maresco wrote. 

Maresco added that Simpson “committed to handling the situation better at the next storm” and designated a deputy chief as the point of contact during storms. The fire chief also requested more meetings and communication for future storms, the email said.

The March 19 separation agreement shows that upon his exit, Simpson would be paid more than $100,000. This includes the remainder of his salary through April 25; unused vacation time in the amount of $20,591.10; and a lump sum equaling six months of salary, or $89,223.77.

The agreement also outlines the verbiage of a joint statement, which was sent to The Patriot Ledger and WATD 95.9 on March 20, as well as what the town administrator should tell any future prospective employers of Simpson: “Chief Jeffrey Simpson resigned as Fire Chief from the Town of Marshfield in excellent standing.” 

The agreement notes that no other information will be released and “it will be explained that it is standard practice for the Town not to provide any other information with respect to former employees.”

The former fire chief’s letter of resignation was short.

“Please be advised that I hereby resign from my employment with the Town of Marshfield. My resignation is effective as of April 25, 2024,” Simpson wrote.

Three days after this separation agreement was signed, the select board hired former Fire Chief William Hocking to temporarily oversee the department. The meeting lasted 10 minutes over Zoom with no public comment.

Hocking was the town’s fire chief from 2015 to 2020. Overall, he had worked for the fire department for 34 years and was a consultant for the town following his retirement as chief.

More: Marshfield names acting fire chief. Who was tapped for the job

The town paid Hocking $19,276 last year in his role as fire consultant, a position he resigned from in March 2023. As acting fire chief, Hocking is paid $100 an hour, public records show.

Simpson joined the town as fire chief in April 2021 and was paid a salary of $165,000. In 2023, he earned just over $183,000. The former fire chief’s pay in 2024, including the six-month payout, was $170,642.

A complaint made by the Marshfield firefighters union against the town for comments made during the March select board meeting remains open with the state labor relations department.

Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at [email protected].

News Source : https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2024/04/17/former-marshfield-ma-fire-chief-jeffrey-simpson-let-go-fired/73345166007/