Conclusion of the Investigation of the Fire Chief & Lieutenant Produces More Questions

As the Board of Selectmen met in non-public session Monday, June 19  to discuss the completed report on the investigation of the Fire Chief and Lieutenant, there was some anticipation that something might be announced the following day. That did not happen. The limbo of the Chief and Lieutenant being on paid administrative leave continues. 

I infer that the parties are in negotiations with each other. 

Meanwhile, the Lieutenant has publicly disclosed on her personal Facebook page a letter she sent to the town two days before the board meeting. She has waived her right to privacy and has requested a large number of documents to be made public according to the provisions of RSA 91-A. This letter is shown below. 

Tidbits about the investigation have emerged. The investigator was Charla Stevens. Stevens is a retired attorney who has, since 2021, been providing consulting services in workplace training, independent investigations, strategic human resources consulting, and mediation and conflict resolution. 

Stevens has a Twitter account in which she expresses her political views. One can find there views critical of Marjorie Taylor Green and Megyn Kelly. There’s a post from Fox News that she comments on saying “STFU.”  There are many other similar posts, all indicative of activist adherence to a political position. This may explain why, as disclosed on Facebook, that an issue Stevens pursued in the investigation was what television station did the Chief and Lieutenant put on at the Fire Station. 

Details on the situation remain sketchy. A speculative narrative on how the town got into this has been proposed by the son of the Chief and Lieutenant. My summary of this narrative is as follows:

• A disgruntled new member of the Fire Department who was under investigation himself retaliated by complaining about the management of the Fire Department. 

• The complaint was never formally filed as a written document. 

• The complaint was verbally provided to the board in non-public session, either by the Interim Town Administrator or one of the Selectmen.

• The complaint was based on things which were not documented, making them difficult to prove.

• The complaint was targeted at the Lieutenant, relegating the Chief to be only indirectly involved. That’s why the police were sent to remove the Lieutenant from her job while she was on duty. 

• For unclear motivations, one or more members of the Board of Selectmen wanted the Chief to retire. The complaint was seized upon as a catalyst for forcing the Chief to retire. 

As the town has provided almost no information to the public about the situation, all the public has access to is speculative narratives such as this one. The public remains in the dark about what is happening.

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Letter posted on Fire Department Lieutenant Sandra Vilchock’s personal Facebook page:

Subject: Lt. Sandra Vilchock NH RSA 91 A 6/17/23

To: Ellen White <TA@nottingham-nh.gov>, Ben Bartlett <bbartlett@nottingham-nh.gov>, John Morin <jmorin@nottingham-nh.gov>, Timothy Dabrieo <TDabrieo@nottingham-nh.gov>, Steven Welch <Swelch@nottingham-nh.gov>, mshirland@nottingham-nh.gov <mshirland@nottingham-nh.gov>

In accordance with NH RTK RSA 91-A request the following:

Include all email.

Redact any complaintant names, if you think needed.

I renounce any right to privacy related to any and all the following.

1.) Copy of Investigation report of Lt. Sandra Vilchock.

2.) Copy of legal review of investigation report of Lt. Sandra Vilchock.

3.) Copy of information provided to BOS for March 23, 2023 Administrative Action decision of Lt. Sandra Vilchock Include all Scruton information.

7.) All communications between Town Administrators (Scruton and White) and Charla Stevens related to Lt. Sandra Vilchock.

8.) All communication between any Board of Selectman and D. Sylvia related to Nottingham Fire Rescue between 10/31/2023 and 6/17/2023.

9.) All communication between Town Administrators and D. Sylvia related to Nottingham Fire Rescue between 10/31/2023 and 6/17/2023.

10.) All invitations from TA and BOS to Lt. Sandra Vilchock requesting attendance to any non public session discussing Lt. Sandra Vilchock from 10/31/2023 through 6/17/2023.

11.) All communication from TA (and / or BOS) and Lt. Sandra Vilchock documenting Lt. Sandra Vilchock waiving right to public hearing for non public meetings related to Sandra Vilchock from 10/31/2023 through 6/17/2023.

12.) All documentation from complaintant related to Lt. Sandra Vilchock.