Termination hearing rescheduled for embattled Nahant firefighter

NAHANT – A Civil Service termination hearing for embattled firefighter Kevin Howard has been postponed for at least several weeks.The hearing was initially scheduled for Oct. 26 but attorney Richard B. Reiling, who represents Howard, asked for a few days to review evidence, pushing the hearing until Friday, Oct. 29.Nahant Town Administrator Mark Cullinan said attorney Michael Marks of Lynn, who is serving as the hearing officer, agreed to postpone the hearing until Oct. 29 at Reiling’s request.”More witnesses are being called than previously thought,” Cullinan said. “We don’t think it is possible to complete the hearing in one day due to the number of witnesses. The postponement was mutually agreed on.”Cullinan said the hearing officer was scheduled to leave Oct. 29 for a three- or four-week vacation.”It doesn’t make sense to spend one day in a hearing and wait several weeks to finish it up,” Cullinan said. “It is in everyone’s best interest not to conduct the hearing in fits and starts. Howard will remain on unpaid leave at this point.”Howard went on paid sick leave after allegations surfaced that he embezzled thousands of dollars from the International Association of FireFighters Local 2718 and he was placed on unpaid leave as of Aug. 20. Howard, who has been a firefighter for 11 years, was president of Local 2718 until he was appointed acting chief March 1. He served as acting chief until April 29, when he went on sick leave after allegations against him were made public.Howard is also facing criminal charges in connection with the alleged embezzlement. He was already arraigned in Lynn District Court on charges of larceny over $250. Howard, who pleaded innocent, was released on personal recognizance by Judge Ellen Flatley, who also issued a stern bail warning, which means if Howard gets into any further legal trouble while this case is pending he could be held without bail for up to 60 days.The charges against Howard in Lynn District Court stem from a request for a criminal complaint the union filed against him in Lynn District Court in August. The criminal complaint alleged Howard made numerous purchases for his personal use at Home Depot, Shaw’s and Walmart, using union accounts. It also alleged that during various ATM transactions he made approximately $7, 600 in cash withdrawals from union accounts.