SWAMPSCOTT — Police Chief Ruben Quesada and Fire Chief Graham Archer were at the Select Board meeting Wednesday evening to discuss rising overtime costs in the fiscal year 2023 budget. However, the conversation turned to the tension between the Police Union and town officials, and how to fix it.
“I just want to take this moment to talk about something that has been weighing on me for the past 11 months,” Quesada said. “I’m deeply concerned about the relationship between Town Hall, members of the police department, and the members of the union. I think there is a strained relationship that needs to be repaired.”
Select Board Member Mary Ellen Fletcher said the board had touched on wanting to have more communication between the groups in January, and that she does not have a problem with sitting down and discussing how to mend the relationship.
“I would prefer an executive section, and talking with you (Quesada), Sean (Fitzgerald), the Union, I don’t care who it is but I don’t like seeing division or misunderstandings or negativity out there without having an opportunity just to have a conversation,” Fletcher said.
Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald said the issues the town has worked on over the past few years regarding public safety have been “the most difficult that any community will deal with in any city or town in our country.”
“Trying to be a more 21st century public safety function, it’s complicated.” Fitzgerald said. “It is about real change, it’s not about rhetoric, it’s not about speeches, it’s about making changes.”
Changes, conflict, and challenges go “hand in hand” in creating more inclusive public safety services, he said.
“You can’t do any of this without bearing the burden of some of the frustrations,” Fitzgerald added. “What I want most of all is for folks to get away from the ‘us and them’ … start talking about us as a group of dedicated elected and appointed officials who have a responsibility to build a better future.”
Quesada said since he came on as chief in March 2022, he has seen a lot of positive things and changes happen in the community.
“I think that we need to continue, we need to stay on that path,” Quesada said.
Quesada also said that by coming together and having discussions, he believes it is possible to “mitigate the effects of these rising (overtime) costs.”
“I say that as part of Town Hall leadership that I want to be part of the change, I want to be part of the solution here,” Quesada said. “I just want us to come together and meet at the table and see how we can lower our costs. In the end we all want the same for our community and I think that’s important for all of us.”
“We are looking forward to finally getting to meet with members of the board and have a productive discussion,” Kevin Reen, the Swampscott Police Union president, wrote in a statement to The Item.
