Volunteer firefighters in Rockport threatening to step down if demands aren’t met

ROCKPORT, Mass. — Most of the firefighters in Rockport are threatening to step down from their jobs by Friday if the town does not meet their conditions on staffing changes. All firefighters for the town serve as volunteers.

In a letter, sent to the board of selectmen on Monday, Nov. 9, the volunteer firefighters pushed for the resignation of the town’s Fire Department’s Director of Emergency Services Mark Schmink and Assistant Fire Chief Steven Abell. They say the department has no confidence in them and, should they not be fired, they would all resign on Friday, Nov. 13.

In the letter, firefighters outlined their demands as such:

• The immediate removal of Mark Schmink as Director of Emergency Services;
• The immediate removal of Steven Abell, Jr. as Assistant Fire Chief (C3);
• The immediate elimination of the position of Director of Emergency Services in the Town of Rockport;
• The immediate return of control of the Fire Department to the Fire Chief, James Doyle (C1); and,
• The immediate return to training for all members of the Fire Department, in a Covid-19 safe manner.

While some of the firefighters met with town leaders on Wednesday to discuss the demands, one of the fire captains says he still thinks he may have to retire by Friday because he doesn’t believe the town will take the necessary actions to prevent most of the department from leaving.

A group of residents protested on Wednesday as well, showing their support for the firefighters. Those supporting the firefighters say they disagree with Schmink. According to the fire department, Schmink’s position never existed before and he is not qualified to fit the role due to his lack of firefighting experience.

They maintain they do not believe Schmink and Abell have the firefighters' best interests and well-being in mind after they took away control from the fire chief and their captains.

Firefighters said that, for the last two years, since Schmink and Abell took on their positions, over 10 firefighters and officers have been dismissed or left the department - but at the same time, no new personnel have joined. They claim Schmink has “sat on applications for new applicants to deter more people joining the department.”

Firefighters also said they feel Schmink, who is also the town’s first Assistant Police Chief, has too much control over the fire department. He is now overseeing several departments, which leaves him little time to devote to the fire department. One fire captain says they haven’t been able to do drills or train for the last several months because of the current leadership.

In the letter, firefighters also claim Schmink and Abell plan to slowly dismiss members until there is no longer a fire department, forcing the town to hire “professional” fire services or “establish its own costly, full-time fire department run by Asst. Chief Abell and controlled by Director Schmink.”

Most of the 28 firefighters say they may retire or quit on Friday if Schmink doesn’t lose his job.

“I think I’m gonna try to talk my guys down off the ledge but I think I’m done, I don’t think I can do this anymore unless they [...] bend some kind of answer before Friday and I’ll change my mind, but otherwise I can’t do it,” said Fire Captain Frank Favaloro.

Boston 25 News reached out to the town of Rockport on this issue and received a statement saying they’ll consider the firefighters' concerns, in part stating,

“Hopefully cooler heads will prevail and the listed individuals will not resign at 6 p.m. on Friday. Should that occur, residents and business owners should know that the Town will remain protected for fire services.”

Town leaders also reassured residents they’ll have emergency services covered by the Gloucester Fire Department if they end up losing most of their firefighters on Friday.

Rockport officials also stressed they do not plan on transitioning the Fire Department to full time. The Board of Selectmen also emphasized they found the letter to be inappropriate and not conducive" method to sharing their concerns.

Boston 25 News reached out to Schmink, who told us this is a personnel matter and he cannot comment.

Cox Media Group