Provincetown fire chief leaves post following controversy. What we know.

Lina Portman1 week ago

23 2 minutes read

Michael Trovato, Provincetown fire chief since 1991, resigns.

“July 2 at midnight, I was done,” Trovato told the Cape Cod Times.

Trovato said he planned to stay with the department until 2025, when he would have had to retire under state law. But he decided to resign early after a May meeting with city staff.

A statement released Tuesday by Provincetown City Manager Alex Morse confirmed that Trovato met with Morse and Deputy City Manager Dan Riviello in early May “after full-time and volunteer department members approached me contacted me to share their concerns about the firefighters.

According to Morse's statement, “We did not ask the chief to resign, nor did we fire him or take disciplinary action against him. In fact, it was the chief who threatened to resign during of this meeting, as he has done many times during this meeting in the past where difficult conversations about ministry have taken place.

According to the release, Trovato submitted his resignation on June 17, after being informed that the board would hold an executive session to discuss personnel issues that had been raised within the department.

Jimmy Roderick, former deputy chief of the Provincetown Fire Department, will become interim chief once Trovato leaves, according to the city.

In 2019: Provincetown fire chief's term extended

Difference of opinion

Although the May meeting may have been the catalyst for Trovato's resignation, there has long been a difference of opinion between Trovato and city officials over the future of the Provincetown Fire Department as the tenure of Trovato is coming to an end.

“I had a plan for a smooth transition,” Trovato said. “He (Morse) has a different plan.”

According to Morse's statement, “Our guiding principle over the past several years has been to focus on succession planning to ensure continuity of service within the department. In the past year, for the first time in history, the Town hired 20 full-time, part-time firefighter-EMTs and firefighter-paramedics as part of a long-term plan to supplement on-call volunteers and move to what is called a 'combined service' for Provincetown.

For many years, the city had an all-volunteer fire department, and Trovato was quick to praise the volunteers for their service, expertise and quick response to fires. His advice for the city going forward: “Do your best to respond to calls.”

Possible resignations of call volunteers

However, it seems possible that some of the call volunteers will leave their positions following the release of Trovato. Several volunteers appeared at Monday evening's select committee meeting, announcing the possibility of resignations.

According to Morse's statement, “Last night I was disappointed that 19 volunteer members of the department threatened to resign in such a public manner. We would of course prefer that they remain members of the appeal/volunteer department and that they continue their service to the people of Provincetown.”

Morse added that “the Provincetown Fire Department is implementing a comprehensive plan to strengthen our firefighting capabilities and ensure our city remains safe and protected.”

Morse praised Trovato's long experience as a member and chief of the fire department.

“I want to thank Chief Trovato for his 49 years of dedicated service to the department and the people of Provincetown,” Morse said.

Trovato's devotion to duty is well known at the Cape Point.

“I was the first one through the door during a fire,” Trovato said. “I sleep with the damn radio.”

Eric Williams, when not solving the mysteries of Curious Cape Cod, writes about various ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife, and other topics. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X: @capecast.

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Difference of opinion

Possible resignations of call volunteers

Lina Portman

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