The firefighters union in Bourne issued a no confidence vote in Bourne Fire Chief Norman Sylvester Jr. and called for his suspension.
On April 1 members of Professional Firefighters of Bourne Local 1717 unanimously voted they have no confidence in Sylvester’s leadership, according to The Cape Cod Times. The union sent the town a letter outlining member’s concerns, which was received April 22, according to the newspaper.
The union argues the chief has weakened the department’s safety education program by returning almost $7,000 in Student Awareness of Fire Education and Senior Awareness of Fire Education money to the state, according to the letter obtained by the newspaper.
The chief also ignored nationally recognized standards and practices for response to active shooters and hostile events and refused to provide training and equipment, according to the newspaper.
The chief “lowered the bar on the level of training” provided to new firefighters by allowing a part-time and volunteer firefighter academy to take the place of a full-time recruit firefighter academy, according to the letter obtained by the newspaper.
Sylvester announced in March that he would retire at the end of the fiscal year because of an extremely difficult climate in the department, according to the newspaper. He is to stay on the job until July 5.
The union wants him out sooner, according to the Cape Cod Times.
The Board of Selectmen will speak with its counsel before making a decision, the newspaper reports.
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