Moran is subject of a show-cause hearing Aug. 29 on a request for a criminal complaint after officials said he sent a fire truck to a fake call.
Holyoke Deputy Fire Chief William P. MoranHOLYOKE – The Fire Commission Wednesday released a statement about the controversy involving Deputy Chief William P. Moran that officials said is meant to tell a skeptical and frustrated public, “We hear you.”
Chairwoman Priscilla F. Chesky said in an interview the commission is investigating and doing all it can to resolve the Moran issue swiftly while balancing Moran’s due process rights.
Officials know the issue has prompted “much discussion,” the statement said.
“The commission will make every effort to keep the public informed in the future to the extent allowable,” the statement said.
A show-cause hearing is set for Moran for Aug. 29 in Springfield District Court. That’s on a criminal complaint that Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni has sought against Moran for sending a fire truck on a fake call to the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside June 15.
“Part of ensuring the proceedings are conducted subject to due process is allowing the district attorney’s office to complete its investigation into a criminal proceeding free of interference,” said the commission statement, prepared with City Solicitor Lisa A. Ball.
“For this reason the commission does not plan on conducting any evidentiary hearings regarding Mr. Moran until the district attorney’s office has an opportunity to present its case,” the statement said.
Chesky said she was “not 100 percent pleased” the commission is waiting for the criminal proceedings to conclude before the commission acts on Moran, “but I think for all the right reasons we’re waiting for the criminal investigation to take its course.”
Up to June 15, Moran, a 27-year veteran who worked on Mayor Elaine A. Pluta’s 2009 election campaign, had been acting chief since September.
The city and Moran’s lawyer, Jeffrey S. Morneau, agreed July 26 to change the status of Moran’s leave. The change could save the city money in the long run because Moran’s use of that time leaves less of it the city would have to buy back at his retirement, Ball said.
The annual salary of a deputy chief is $68,775 while the line-item for the chief’s salary in the current city budget is $95,873.
The three-member commission is a volunteer board appointed by the mayor. It has sole authority to hire, discipline and fire the chief. The commission consists of Juan A. Pedrosa, William N. McCoy and Chesky.
