PHILLIPSTON — Town officials are investigating the managerial practices of the Fire Department, as well as examining two computers which have not been working properly since about the time a number of people resigned from the department following sexual harassment allegations.

The Board of Selectmen has hired Gardner City Solicitor John Flick to investigate the Fire Department following ongoing internal reports of missing equipment, missing files and altered reports.

Reports about these concerns, according to Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Flynn, had been coming to town officials prior to the recent resignation of staffers of the Fire Department following allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination from Capt. John Seamon Jr.

“The board was aware of things going on at station of concern, but they didn’t talk about it much in public,” Flynn said. “More has been brought to our attention since then. ... There’s missing equipment, reports that have been altered and bills that date back several years that haven’t been paid. With advice from Town Counsel and talking with insurance, we are hiring John Flick to do an investigative study on management practices in the department and how it’s been running the past few years.”

Flick is expected to begin his investigation next week, and will wrap up his work by the end of February.

“He expects to spend a few weeks interviewing folks, going through files,” Flynn said. “We promised him he has access to employees, our records and files and anything he needs. ... At some point the board will release what they find unless there is something criminal in there.”

The town will also be having forensic analysts come in to investigate two computers in the Fire Department that have had issues since the employees resigned at the end of December.

“Since the folks left the department we have had trouble getting access to computers and getting computers to work, and getting files to work,” Flynn said. “We contacted our insurance company, and they are providing a forensic team that is going to examine the computers.”

The computers in question are located in the Fire Department administrative assistant’s office, as well as the chief’s office. Both offices are typically locked, and are usually only accessed by the chief and administrative assistant.

One computer appears to have all of its files missing, while the other computer will not even turn on.

“They are sending a forensic team to examine the computers and hard drives and find out what is the problem,” Flynn said. “We use those computers to keep track of billing, fire runs, ambulance runs and reports. That will be paid for by our insurance.”

The resignations in the Fire Department happened following allegations that Capt. John Seamon Jr. was sexually harassing a new employee who had yet to start the job, as well as firefighter Amanda Griffith. Numerous other firefighters and Administrative Assistant Kristin Stanley resigned, as well as firefighter Anthony Jones, who resigned after his own issues with what he claimed were Seamon’s alleged dangerous and harassment practices at work.

The town initially refused to comment on the allegations following advice from their lawyers, but Board of Selectmen Chairman John Telepciak read a statement regarding the allegations at the most recent meeting.

“The Selectboard Office received a complaint from one individual regarding an incident with another individual in the Fire Department. They were the only two individuals involved in the complaint. There were no other witnesses to the alleged incident,” Telepciak said. “The complaint was investigated in accordance with Town policy. The parties were offered the opportunity to meet individually and confidentially with the Selectboard in Executive Session. The complainant declined the offer. The Selectboard reviewed the matter in Executive Session and took what it deemed appropriate action. The matter is now closed.”

The town has begun to hire replacements for the staff that resigned, and appointed Jack Seamon, the Capt.’s father as a driver, as well as firefighter Rob Smith. The town will be posting the other positions over time.

The town is also looking at finding a permanent new fire chief. While Chief Richard Stevens was away on medical leave, he had announced his retirement for early February, due to ongoing health issues.

Interim Fire Chief John Duguay is doing well according to Flynn, but is looking to retire and will not take a permanent full-time chief position.

“We cannot speak on it too much, but we wish Stevens well. It can be tough and we hope the best for him,” Flynn said.

At this point in time, what could possibly be any benefit to Templeton in merging ambulance service with Phillipston? What possible benefit to Templeton taxpayers exist regarding merging anything involving fire / ambulance services from Phillipston with Templeton?