Edward Bock and Gary Brougham

Belchertown Fire Chief Edward Bock, center, is seen with Gary Brougham at Monday's selectmen's meeting.

(JIM RUSSELL PHOTO)

BELCHERTOWN – While a majority of selectmen were voting on Monday to approve Fire Chief Edward Bock's restructuring of the ambulance service – that included laying off four long-serving paramedics – one of those whose position is being eliminated interrupted the proceedings to accuse Bock of questionable means to justifying the new protocol.

The new arrangement, adopted by a 3-1 selectmen's vote, means all medics will now also serve as Belchertown firefighters, the chief said. The four losing their positions were not trained to be firefighters.

The chief said town counsel advised him to carry out the four layoffs.

Bock told selectmen the four did not wish to become firefighters. That would have allowed them to continue working as medics, under the new operational structure, he said.

Selectman William Barnett asked Bock if he provided the four an opportunity to enroll in the firefighter academy as a way to keep their jobs.

“No,” the chief responded.

One of the four, April Fernandes, lashed out at Bock and town administrator Gary Brougham.

Fernandez said the chief refused her request, back in April, to attend the academy – and said she has now lost her job despite efforts to meet the new requirements.

In a memo to the board, Bock made this statement:

Bock said a 2006 study “recommended the combining of departments and staff to provide a fire based EMS.” The memo is dated June 5.

Selectman William Barnett questioned Bock about the four – Jack Kennedy, Emily Chandler, Kate Sullivan, and Fernandes – being laid off.

Barnett asked if the chief knew why the four did not want to also be firefighters, adding, “Do they know they will be laid off?”

“I am not sure,” Bock responded.

Barnett then expressed outrage, saying he had only found out about the layoffs a few hours earlier.

“I am very concerned. ... That is not how somebody should be treated. ... That is not the way I was brought up and not how Belchertown should operate,” Barnett said.

Selectman Ron Aponte said “It is not the chief’s job to find out their career aspirations. The most important thing for us to consider is the safety of the town.” And selectmen Brenda Aldrich, and George “Archie” Archible agreed, voting to support the change that resulted in the layoffs. Barnett voted against the change.

Fernandes, who began to weep, scolded Bock and Brougham, prior to departing the meeting.

She said that the fire chief “did not tell us the truth -- I was lied to,” adding, “Gary, I trusted you.”

In the June 5 memo, Bock says state law “allows the Fire Chief full governing authority over the fire department, equipment, and firefighters, however it does not allow governing authority for stand alone Paramedic employees.”

In an interview following the meeting, Fernandes said she approached Bock three years ago to inquire about whether she needed to complete the firefighter academy to keep her job and said she was told that was not necessary. Fernandes said that when she approached Bock in April about attending the academy, the chief refused the request.

Fernandes’ companion, Belchertown resident Paul Fenn, attended the meeting. He is also a firefighter and paramedic in Agawam.

Fenn urged selectmen to investigate the matter.

He also provided them a one-page document that concludes with the following: