By Peter Currier
The Sun
BOSTON — After months of little movement within the Legislature, the Massachusetts House of Representatives finally considered and passed a bill to provide injury benefits to Chelmsford firefighter Nicholas Spinale after he was severely injured at his other job at the Massachusetts Fire Academy earlier this year.
The legislation is now pending in the Senate, and if it passes there it will go to the desk of Gov. Maura Healey, who introduced the bill herself in May amid questions over how Spinale could legally receive injury benefits from the town when he was hurt while working a second job where he did not have such benefits.
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The bill would make Spinale eligible for leave from the town without a loss of pay, retroactive to April 7 , the day of his catastrophic injury when he fell 40 feet from the Fire Academy’s burn building on its Stow campus and landed on concrete. The state will then reimburse the town of Chelmsford for Spinale’s injury leave compensation.
In a statement to The Sun Thursday, Chelmsford Fire Chief Gary Ryan said he is “grateful to see the Firefighter Spinale bill pass the House,” and that he appreciates the work of all of those who moved the bill forward.
“I recognize that our legislators have many bills and proposals competing for their attention, and I am thankful that this legislation is finally making progress,” said Ryan. “While there is still work to be done in the Senate, this is an important step forward. I want to thank all of the legislators, advocates, and everyone else who has continued to support this effort and kept it moving forward.
“I look forward to the day when this legislation is fully passed and signed into law so that Firefighter Spinale and his family receive the support and consideration they deserve,” Ryan continued. “They have waited a long time, and I remain hopeful that we are getting closer to achieving that goal.”
Chelmsford Firefighters IAFF Local 1839 President Rob Albon told The Sun Thursday the fire union is “hoping the Senate votes in favor of this legislation as the House did.”
“We are confident that our legislative agents in the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts will continue their work on Beacon Hill advocating for the passage of Nick’s bill,” said Albon.
Former state Rep. Rodney Elliott, whose district included part of Chelmsford, resigned over the summer but was on the Joint Committee on Public Service that reported the bill favorably on June 26. He said the House passage of the bill “is about doing what is right for Nick Spinale and for every firefighter who steps forward to train, teach, and protect others.”
“This bill closes a gap in the law and sends a clear message: when firefighters answer the call to serve the Commonwealth, whether on the front lines or in training roles, we stand behind them,” said Elliott. “The bill establishes an important precedent to ensure that no firefighter is left without protection because of a technicality in the law. Nick’s courage and dedication inspired this effort, but the impact will extend far beyond one individual.”
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