NAHANT -Robert “Skip” Frary resigned as selectmen on Tuesday.
According to Town Clerk Peggy Barile, Frary submitted a letter of resignation to her office dated April 27. Frary was elected to his first term as selectmen in April 2000 when he upset incumbent James Walsh by a wide margin.
There has been a lot of speculation that Frary, who is a lieutenant in the Winchester Fire Department, could be tapped as permanent chief of the Nahant Fire Department.In his letter of resignation, Frary stated he was leaving the Board of Selectmen to pursue other opportunities, which he could not pursue as a selectman.
Frary said he made the decision to step down in February but decided to wait until after Town Meeting to resign.
?I’ve done my time,” Frary said. “I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish. I have spent 20 years serving the town. It has been an honor and a privilege.”As for speculation he is resigning to take the position of fire chief in Nahant, Frary pointed out there is not a full time fire chief position in town.
?As of right now a fire chief position is not included in the budget,” he said. “In our FY 2011 budget we have budgeted for a firefighter to work a regular shift and serve as acting chief.”
Frary went on to say if the town decided to fund a full time chief position, he could be interested in it.
?That would be a ways down the road,” he said. “Right now we don’t have a position and state law says a period of time must pass before an elected official can be hired by the town.”
There has been turmoil in the Nahant Fire Department since February when Chief Robert Ward announced he was retiring.
Kevin Howard, who has been a firefighter for 11 years, was appointed as acting chief March 1 above two senior lieutenants. Lt. Edward Hyde, who has been with the department for 24 years and served as acting chief when Ward was out, said he turned down what he called a “low ball offer” from the town and Lt. Dean Palumbo, who has been with the department for 20 years, was not offered the position.
On Monday afternoon, Town Administrator Mark Cullinan said Howard has been on medical leave since Friday but has not resigned. Calls to Cullinan were not returned on Wednesday.
Howard was president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2718 but stepped down after his appointment as acting chief. Calls to Howard were not returned this week, but two town officials who asked not be identified confirmed there have been allegations of improprieties regarding use of thousands of dollars in union funds by Howard.
Union Vice President Frank Pappalardo declined to comment on the allegations.
When Cullinan was asked about allegations of theft from the firefighters union, he declined to comment on those allegations, but said Howard is not suspected of stealing from the town.
Earlier this week Cullinan said he hopes Hyde would agree to serve as acting chief if Howard resigns.
