Sherborn Selectmen's Decision To Replace Interim Fire Chief Comes With Controversy

The Sherborn Board of Selectmen voted 2-1 to replace Sherborn Interim Fire Chief Jon Dowse with the department’s Deputy Chief Josh Buckler. 

Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Tom Twining said it was his understanding that Dowse wished to step down on June 30 as acting fire chief and that he expressed in comments and e-mails to the selectmen that he did not want his term to extend past June 30.

Selectmen George Pucci voted against replacing Dowse as chief.

“After last Thursday night’s meeting I was devastated,” said Dowse, who felt he was accused of not doing a good job. “It was painful for me."  

“In my mind, it was town politics at an all-time low,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep that night."

Dowse is uncertain about his future with the fire department, saying the members of the fire department, “didn’t do anything wrong to me and neither did the people of the town, but the leaders of the town did.”

“(Buckler) is a great person,” Dowse said, “I hope he takes the department over in better circumstances.”

Town Clerk Carole Marple has confirmed that she has received over a dozen phone calls and more than two dozen e-mails from residents as of Monday morning who are in shock over how Dowse was treated at the selectmen’s meeting.

Some residents are calling for a recall provision, which many towns have, said Marple. A recall provision would enable the residents to vote out any sitting elected official. Marple said it would require 200 signatures to get a special town meeting for the town to then vote on the provision.  

During the 90-minute discussion that began at 10:30 p.m. at last Thursday's meeting, Twining said to Dowse, “We’ve been under the impression you would be looking to step down this month.” Althought Dowse said that was never his intention, Twining said that they have already made arrangements otherwise.

“To bring in another person is not good for the transition of the department," Dowse said at the meeting. "I understand you have a misconception. I would love to talk to you about it.” He added that he had not received a lot of communication in the past weeks.

Twining was prepared to make a motion to vote Buckler in as acting chief, however, Pucci was not.

“I don’t feel I can second or support that motion,” saying he never saw the e-mail in which Dowse said he was stepping down at the end of June. 

Sherborn Fire Department Captain Shawn Flanagan, who was against the process, said none of selectmen or committee members had made contact with him. He added that he did hear a selectman spoke with some of the one-or two-year members of the department, but none of the officers.

Ron Arigo, who sits on the Personnel Board and the committee that is looking into the future of the Sherborn Fire Department, said, “the town is better served if there are fewer transitions.”

Twining stated again his vote is based on, “Jon’s desire to step down,” and “other factors as well.”  Then he brought to light that Buckler has skills that Dowse does not have saying, “We could build him into a full-time home grown chief.”  He added that Buckler fulfills many of the criteria of a full-time chief that the Fire Department Committee is looking for. Twining said that although the town can’t afford it, when necessary, Buckler could slip into the full-time position that Dowse has expressed he did not want.

“I often wonder if you understand what you’re risking here," said Bruce Evans, a Sheborn firefighter for 18 years said. "When you make these decisions and don’t get the support of the rank and file you risk a lot of turmoil.” He told the selectmen to get the support of the fire department before they make this decision. Twining said he believed they had their support.

At one point Twining said he was, “dismayed that this is becoming such a circus.” To which Pucci retorted, “You can’t be the lead clown and then be dismayed,” which was met with a room full of laughter.

Twining then brought into the conversation personnel issues that he could only cite vaguely because this meeting was in open forum. He said personnel issues became more consistent under Dowse’s leadership. Flanangan said those issues happened long before Dowse became chief.  Twining implied that he does not believe the personnel issues would have happened under better leadership.

Selectman DeRensis, who had been quiet most of the meeting, said Dowse had told him many times he wanted to be out by June 30. DeRensis said Dowse told him he did not like making presentations or the personnel management. He said in his past year as chair, Town Council had to go to the fire department several times for liability issues. He added that Town Council’s opinion made him think the department’s leadership was at fault. DeRensis said he also received many e-mails stating the same thing.

Again defending Dowse, Pucci said, “You’re being equally unfair” and added they need to look into the validity of the complaints.

At this time, Twining was ready to rest the argument and table it for the next meeting saying all the e-mails would be printed and reviewed with town council.

Dowse then stood up and said, “Go ahead and do the vote. I don’t want to prolong this any further,” and walked out of the meeting.

“Another pillar of the community disgraced,” said Pucci, “You blindsided him with all of these allegations that he walked out of the meeting.”

Twining said, “It’s too late to do anything now. I actually thought Jon wanted to step down.  I didn’t want to ramrod this through.”

Without the knowledge of whether or not Dowse wanted to return to his position, selectmen voted 2 to 1 to appoint Josh Buckler as Acting Fire Chief and tensely adjourned a little after midnight.