By Jennifer Hoegg
Kentville’s fire department and its chief have parted ways.
According to statement from the department issued Tuesday evening, Shawn Ripley is no longer with the Kentville Volunteer Fire Department as of Aug. 7.
“The Board of Directors of the Fire Department wishes to thank Mr. Ripley for his many years of faithful service to the Department and to the people of the Town of Kentville and Municipality of Kings,” stated a press release. The statement noted the terms of his departure are confidential.
Although there was no official word until after the board of directors met with firefighters Tuesday evening, news of Ripley’s departure leaked out earlier in the day.
“The former Chief Ripley was in my office a little while ago and said he was through,” Kentville Mayor Dave Corkum confirmed around 2 p.m.
Ripley, who has served on the force for more than 30 years, was hired as Kentville’s first full-time, paid chief in May 2010. Before then he served as volunteer chief for 14 years. The 50-year-old made between $60,000 and $70,000 as chief of the department.
In December 2010, Ripley was suspended with pay for a month for “internal personnel issues.”
In March 2011, a governance report from an independent consultants highlighted human resource and organizational issues within the department.
What happens next?
Deputy Chief Ryan MacEachern and Jeffrey Martin, chairman of the department’s board of directors, stated, members are “prepared to and will step into the ‘gap’ and ensure the continuation of the high quality of service that the Kentville Voluntary Fire Department has always been known for while the search for a replacement for Mr. Ripley proceeds.”
Chief Ripley I too want to Thank-You for all your years of Service and Loyality to the Town of Kentville and surrounding Area as our CHIEF! It is our loss. Thinking of you and your family and wishing you all the best.