By George Barnes
Telegram and Gazette
HUBBARDSTON, Mass. — An administrative hearing has been scheduled for March 17 to consider disciplinary action against Fire Chief Seth A. Knipe over his handling of ambulance billing.
Chief Knipe has been on paid leave from the department since October 2008, after state police were asked to investigate irregularities in billing for ambulance services. Police found a significant number of mistakes made in the billing, but no charges have been filed against Chief Knipe.
The chief maintains the errors were brought on by a lack of training in the computer system and slow computer response times that led to him handling many reports at the same time. He said distractions, such as calls he took while trying to enter the information, contributed to the problem.
The hearing could lead to disciplinary action against the chief, up to and including his being fired, but Chief Knipe said he and the selectmen were close to a separation agreement in February. The agreement fell through because he was unable to sign it by the deadline set by the board.
Chief Knipe said that on Jan. 27 he and his lawyer, John M. Collins, met with a lawyer from the town’s law firm, Kopelman & Paige, and Town Administrator Debra Roussel to discuss his situation. At the meeting, he said, he and his lawyer were told the town had scheduled a disciplinary hearing for Feb. 1. His lawyer reminded the town’s representatives that the chief’s contract requires the town to notify him 14 days before a hearing of that type.
On Feb. 4, Mr. Collins and the town’s lawyer corresponded by e-mail, and the topic of a separation agreement was raised, Chief Knipe said. Later that day, the town sent him a separation agreement that would have given him four months of severance pay if he would agree to step down as chief and not sue the town. The problem, Chief Knipe said, was that his lawyer was going to be away through Feb. 8 and the town required that the agreement be signed by Feb. 8. When Mr. Collins contacted the town lawyer on Feb. 9 to say that, with a few changes, the deal could be made, he was told the deal was off because it was not signed by Feb. 8.
Selectman Michael S. Stauder confirmed yesterday that a hearing has been scheduled for 6 p.m. March 17 to consider allegations connected to the ambulance billing problems. Whether the meeting is held in closed or open session will be up to Chief Knipe that night, he said.
Chief Knipe said that while the hearing is focused on concerns the selectmen have about him, he has issues with the town for violating his contract while he was on leave. He said the selectmen were supposed to hold a hearing within 30 days of his being placed on paid leave. Beyond that, he said, he did not receive his contractual pay increase for this fiscal year.
In a letter to Chief Knipe, selectmen said the board was unable to evaluate his performance because of his leave, and because the performance evaluation was tied to the pay increase, they were unable to give him the pay increase. His annual salary remains at $65,260, rather than $67,218.
Chief Knipe’s last performance review was in April 2008. In it he received high marks, with selectmen indicating he was very well informed and seldom required assistance.
Chief Knipe said the hearing date might have to be changed because his lawyer is not available that day. And, he said, he would prefer to come to an agreement with the board before that date. He said he would seriously considerseparation.
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