By Patrick Anderson
The Gloucester Daily Times
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Mayor Carolyn Kirk said yesterday she will take a week to decide whether the city will fire Clinton Carroll, the former firefighters union president who was arrested last week on charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and child endangerment.
Carroll, accused of having a romantic relationship with a girl that started this winter when she was 13 years old, met yesterday morning with city officials for a Civil Service hearing required in disciplinary actions against Gloucester firefighters and police officers.
Carroll arrived at City Hall for the hearing accompanied by his Gloucester criminal defense attorney, Harold Rush Lloyd, and was later joined by Bryan Decker of the Boston-based law firm that represents the firefighters’ union.
Fire Chief Philip Dench and new firefighters union President Tom LoGrande were also present at the hearing. Gloucester Chief Administrative Officer Jim Duggan was the hearing officer.
Under Civil Service protections, the city has seven days to file a formal disciplinary action against Carroll. Kirk, who in the immediate wake of Carroll’s arrest said she would seek termination, yesterday said the city had no plans to take action earlier than the seven-day period.
Carroll remains on indefinite suspension from the Fire Department and is awaiting an Aug. 31 pre-trial court hearing after making bail on the criminal charges Saturday.
According to the police report, Carroll had contact with an O’Maley Middle School student starting last December that went on to include text messages, clandestine meetings in a park and long phone calls from Central Fire Station while he was on duty at all hours of the day.
The Civil Service hearing relates to Carroll’s alleged use of city equipment and his actions on city time; it is separate from the criminal charges he faces in conjunction with his relationship with the girl.
Copyright 2009