For the past seven years, it has been a profound honor to hold the position of Harbormaster in our cherished community, Gloucester. From my earliest days in the United States Coast Guard to my ongoing service here in Gloucester, public service has been not just a duty, but a deeply ingrained passion. Every moment spent serving this city has been a privilege that I will never forget.
I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support and encouragement I’ve received from countless individuals over the years. The Waterways Board, with both past and present members, exemplified the values of our community and championed changes to enhance waterfront accessibility and modernization. I’m especially thankful for the close collaboration and mutual respect I’ve shared with our emergency response professionals, including Police Chief Ed Conley and Fire Chief Eric Smith.
The role of Harbormaster is multifaceted, requiring a delicate balance –much like the Coast Guard. We are there to help whoever in need, but we also serve as law enforcement. To every fisherman, recreational boater, and resident I’ve had the privilege to work with, thank you for your cooperation and support.
A heartfelt appreciation goes out to every member of my dedicated staff, past and present. Your professionalism and commitment to public service have made the challenges of our job more manageable and have undoubtedly contributed to making Gloucester a better place each day. We could not have been this successful without all of you.
Over the past seven years, we’ve achieved more than I could have imagined. While I’m honored to receive recognition, I must share the credit with the incredible team surrounding me, both in our office and on the Waterways Board and the countless city employees across so many departments. None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support of residents, business owners, the City Council, and the entire boating community.
Some highlights I’m particularly proud of include:
- Digitizing our office operations for increased efficiency and mooring accountability. Increasing mooring areas with reorganization leading to 28% increase in overall moorings and a 36% increase in waterways revenues.
- Earning recognition from Marinas.com for creating a more welcoming port and earning the Marinas.com Elite fleet designation — something that is only given to the top 3% of marinas in the country.
- Collaborating with the Army Corps of Engineers to enhance safety by dredging the Annisquam River, a project that was more than 30 years in the making and our team was able to finally get this project completed.
As I reflect on my time as Harbormaster, I acknowledge that, like everyone, I am not perfect. While the positives far outweigh any negatives, I must take responsibility for my mistakes. One such regret is placing my full support behind the current Mayor and his Administrative Staff, believing promises of transparency and accountability that have not come to fruition. I truly believed Mayor Verga would help Gloucester turn the page from the vacuum of accountability and transparency that infected the prior administration. Unfortunately, that was not the case, as Mayor Verga has allowed members of the prior administration to continue with their misconduct, including with respect to the recent unjustified actions taken against me.
As a fellow resident, I firmly believe that Gloucester deserves better. Despite any challenges, I remain committed to serving our community whenever the opportunity arises. Together, let’s strive for a brighter future for Gloucester, built on transparency, accountability, and the unwavering dedication of its residents.
Regretfully, I have to report that I was wrongfully terminated from my position as Gloucester Harbormaster after seven years of superb service. I have been unjustly dismissed following baseless accusations of misconduct, which have since been proven to be false.
The events leading to my termination began when I discovered discrepancies in city funds and equipment within the department. Suspecting unlawful conduct, I took swift action by reaching out to the police department in accordance with the City’s Whistleblower Protection Policy. I then uncovered evidence of an employee stealing cash from a locked drawer, via security cameras, and promptly reported the incident to city management and law enforcement. This was in February of 2024. That individual has since been indicted for the theft.
Despite my dedication and efforts to uphold integrity and transparency within the department, I then became the target of a plethora of retaliatory accusations from the disgruntled employee who had engaged in the theft. While these false allegations were quickly disproven, a claim surfaced regarding the forgery of a signature on a Department of Marine Fisheries Grant application that had already been approved by the Commonwealth. I was not involved in such matter and denied any involvement in any such matter. Nonetheless, the Mayor suspended me, unpaid, from my position.
In an unexpected turn of events, the City’s Deputy Harbormaster then admitted to the forgery during a meeting at City Hall. Even though the Deputy Harbormaster made unmistakably clear that I had no knowledge of or involvement in the forgery, the Mayor nevertheless immediately terminated my employment, while the deputy who had engaged in the forgery faced no immediate disciplinary action and was sent back to work – for another full week. Although I believe the Deputy Harbormaster would never have done anything nefarious, there is no question he made a mistake. To be absolutely clear, however, the Deputy Harbormaster did not receive any of the funds or otherwise seek to benefit personally from the grant (nor did any other individual inside or outside my Department) – the funds were at all times directed to and used for their intended purpose (City’s sewage and general public vessel sewage – pump out capabilities). Nonetheless I had no idea that the forgery had occurred and therefore had no ability to prevent it, let alone recognize it.
The above sequence of events raises serious concerns about the fairness and honor of the disciplinary process, highlighting the clear retaliation against me for actions taken by others, outside of my knowledge. My dedication to upholding the law and preserving the integrity of City operations should be commended, not met with unjust consequences.
I urge the City administration to reconsider its decision and reinstate me to the position as Harbormaster. Justice must prevail, and those who act with veracity, trustworthiness, and scrupulousness deserve to be recognized and protected. I am and have been dedicated to the Town for the past seven years.
Good Morning Gloucester 