Marshfield to appoint acting fire chief this week after Jeffrey Simpson ouster

MARSHFIELD − An acting fire chief will be appointed Friday, nearly two weeks after the town's elected officials unanimously declined to renew the contract of Fire Chief Jeffrey Simpson.

The three-person select board will meet remotely at 10:10 a.m. to discuss and vote.

Simpson led the town’s fire department since 2021, joining after a career with the Norwell Fire Department.

When Marshfield Select Board members met March 11 to discuss Simpson's contract, they did not publicly disclose specific reasons why they were dissatisfied with his performance. They pointed to budget concerns and management style and alluded to concerns about the union and the fire department's response to a recent storm.

One board member, Stephen Darcy, said at the public meeting that Simpson was a "good man who's been taken advantage of," and that "the union leadership is not in charge of the Marshfield Fire Department."

He said he didn't want to "air dirty laundry and be malicious."

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

Simpson's contract was set to end April 25. Town Administrator Michael Maresco on Wednesday issued a joint statement on behalf of the town and Simpson that said the town "entered into a mutual agreement with Fire Chief Jeff Simpson to resolve his employment status."

The town thanked Simpson in the statement, and Simpson thanked the fire department personnel.

The Patriot Ledger has reached out to Maresco for clarification. Previously, the town administrator declined answer questions about why the fire chief would be let go, saying the town does not does not comment on personnel matters.

The select board also held two executive sessions earlier this year to discuss a complaint lodged against Simpson. Maresco and Marshfield Firefighters Local 2568 President Pat Daley declined to detail the nature of the complaint.

Meanwhile, the union representing Marshfield firefighters has filed a labor complaint against the town and the select board over comments made during the March 11 meeting, saying the comments would have a "chilling effect on union activity."

Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at hmorse@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Marshfield to name acting fire chief after Jeffrey Simpson ouster