NEWS: Robert Hart Rejects Fire Chief Offer

Robert A. Hart, after prevailing in an arduous selection process to become Groton's next Fire chief, in a surprising and shocking move, turned down the offer to become Groton's next chief, citing 'personal and family reasons' according to Selectman Chairman Josh Degen at an emergency Selectmen's meeting called last Friday morning.

According to Degen, Robert Hart met with both Degen, and Town Manager Haddad on Wednesday, toured the new Groton Fire station and had preliminary discussions about the position. After the meeting, the town sent Mr. Hart a formal written offer with salary. Later, after turning down the offer, Degen said he tried to convince Mr. Hart to take the position, but Hart was adamant in refusing it. Degen added Hart said that salary was not a factor in his decision to reject the offer.

In an effort to seek comment from Mr. Hart, the Groton Herald called Mr. Hart's listed phone number but discovered the number was no longer in service. The Herald also tried to contact Mr. Hart at the Acton Fire Department but was told he was on vacation, not returning until July 6.

In an additional effort to understand why a well-qualified candidate, a candidate who clearly wanted the job, would pass up such a seemingly 'plum' appointment, the Herald reached out to a member of a nearby department, seeking a possible explanation for Hart's turning down the offer. A fire fighter from another town said he does not know Mr. Hart personally but that the turmoil in the Groton Fire Department is well known in the surrounding fire fighting community. He also said that he knew friends of Robert Hart were keeping him updated on problems in the Groton department.

There has been widespread speculation that Robert Hart might have believed he could rectify these well-known problems in the Groton Department with new leadership. But, it is further speculated, that when he saw Town Manager Haddad and out-going Chief Bosselait making wholesale changes to the department shortly before his becoming chief, thus preempting his leadership options, he began to doubt their commitment to letting him resolve department problems outlined in the Recruitment Profile under his leadership. He also was sure to hear rumors that many of the disaffected call fire fighters were in the process of forming a union and filing legal complaints against the town.