Andover Firefighters Union: Statement Of No Confidence In Chief

ANDOVER, MA — Andover's firefighter union issued a statement of no confidence in Chief Michael Mansfield Tuesday, complaining of a "hostile work environment." Citing lack of communication, safety issues and violations of collective bargaining agreements, the letter to Town Manager Andrew Flanagan calls for the town to consider replacing Mansfield. The union members in attendance unanimously passed the motion at their October meeting, they wrote.

The union represents the department's 52 career firefighters, 13 lieutenants, and 4 deputy chiefs. Patch has asked Flanagan and Mansfield for comment and will update this story when they are available.

The complaint lists a number of particular "recent examples of poor management," leading with the recent purchase of a ladder truck that was too tall to fit under the Horn Bridge. That ladder truck, which cost the town over $1 million, was returned to the manufacturer, Pierce, to be repaired at no cost. According to the union statement, that has left them using a 20-year-old spare truck "with regular frequency. The spare truck has minimal tools, no radios, and a broken water tank."

"It is our opinion that Chief Mansfield holds sole responsibility," the union statement reads.

The statement also criticizes the chief for violating the union's contract with the town and for under-staffing the Ladder 1 unit, particularly in the aftermath of the 2018 gas explosions.

"Andover Firefighters have seen no new resources or quality training to handle these types of emergencies in the future. The odor of natural gas has become our most frequent emergency call."

They also express concerns about communication and the training of new firefighters.

"Our firefighters are left working with under trained recruits," the statement reads.

"The chief has no had a department-wide meeting in the last decade. Officer meetings do not include Fire lieutenants, so a large number of items get lost in translation," reads another section.

All of this has caused a "climate of poor morale," they claim, before calling for the town to "strongly consider a new Fire Chief."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at chris.huffaker@patch.com and 412-265-8353.