Meetings Ahead
Most meetings in Provincetown are held in person, typically with an online-attendance option. Click on the meeting you want to attend on the calendar at provincetown-ma.gov for a link to an agenda and details. All meetings are at Town Hall unless otherwise noted.
Monday, June 3
- Council on Aging, 5:30 p.m.
- Housing Authority, 5:30 p.m., 44 Harry Kemp Way
Tuesday, June 4
- Conservation Commission, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 5
- Historic District Commission, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 6
- Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.
Conversation Starter
Chief Trovato’s Future
During public comments at the select board meeting on May 28, volunteer firefighter Malcolm Hunter read a letter from Provincetown Firemen’s Association president George Felton saying that Fire Chief Mike Trovato had been told to come alone to a meeting with Town Manager Alex Morse and Assistant Town Manager Dan Riviello.
At that meeting, said the letter, Trovato was told he was “dividing the department” and “it would be in the best interests of the town if he retired immediately.” Felton wrote that pushing the chief to retire would “go against the will of the town’s voters.”
“I thought we had all this resolved,” said volunteer firefighter Vaughn Cabral. “He leads us in life-and-death situations, and to do away with him like this would really affect the department negatively.”
Morse is on vacation this week. Riviello said Trovato had not been fired or asked to resign. “We were contacted by several people with concerns about the fire department, and we raised these concerns directly with the chief,” said Riviello. “While it may have been an uncomfortable meeting, it’s our job to make sure leaders are behaving professionally and supporting their staff.
“As the town manager said on many occasions, we respect Chief Trovato and the ‘call’ volunteers,” Riviello continued. “But we also respect our new full-time staff and have concerns about their training.”
“Right now, we’re hearing from one side and not the other side, and that’s a problem,” said select board member Leslie Sandberg. “I don’t know anyone in their right mind who would fire Chief Trovato. He’s difficult to deal with, and everybody knows that, but he’s brilliant at what he does.”
“We need a clear plan for how we’re going to balance the call and professional force in the long term, so both sides feel respected,” said board member Austin Miller.
Chair Dave Abramson said the issue was not on the agenda and would need to be discussed at a future meeting. Sandberg said it might need to be an executive session if there are human resources issues at play. —Paul Benson
