Rehoboth’s Board of Selectmen has ousted Fire Chief Mark Haskell in a 4-1 vote, saying he crossed the line by getting tangled up in a solar project that sits next to his own property. The board framed the move as insubordination and a possible violation of town ethics rules, bringing months of heated argument over the Pond Street solar array to a dramatic close, at least for now.
During Tuesday night’s public meeting, selectmen said Haskell publicly fought the Pond Street array while presenting himself as the town’s fire chief and that he failed to assign other members of the department to inspect the installation, as reported by Boston 25 News. Selectman Skip Vadenais told Haskell, “You had other competent people who could do exactly what you tried to do.” The board then voted 4-1 to remove him, formally citing both insubordination and an alleged violation of the town’s ethics law.
Where The Array Sits And Why It Became A Flashpoint
According to town documents, a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreement was proposed for a large-scale, ground-mounted solar installation at 90 Pond Street, a project that has appeared on town agendas since 2023, per the Town of Rehoboth. That long paper trail helps explain why the array evolved from a routine infrastructure item into a neighborhood flashpoint and a political headache.
How Haskell Landed In The Hot Seat
Haskell was elevated to fire chief last fall when the selectmen signed off on his contract effective Oct. 1, 2025, according to the Rehoboth Board of Selectmen. As the department’s top officer, his public comments about a project next door to his property carried extra weight in the board’s eyes and ultimately factored into their decision to remove him.
What The Chief Says He Did, And Did Not, Do
Haskell flatly rejected the board’s version of events. “I did not sign off on anything, I did not inspect anything, I have not been on the property,” he said, arguing he had “nothing to lose or gain” because the solar installation was already in place, according to Boston 25 News. He told officials his involvement was driven by safety concerns, pointing to the site’s electrical equipment and the need to ensure firefighters could access the area in an emergency.
The Ethics Rules In Play And What Could Happen Next
Massachusetts municipal employees fall under the State Ethics Commission and the conflict-of-interest rules laid out in Chapter 268A, which require officials to disclose or step away from matters in which they have a personal financial stake, according to Mass.gov. Industry outlet Firefighter Nation reported that a group of firefighters showed up at the selectmen’s meeting to back Haskell and that he signaled he may appeal the board’s decision.
For now, the Rehoboth Fire Department’s website lists a deputy chief as next in the chain of command while town officials sort out the fallout. Residents looking for official contact information can find it on the Rehoboth Fire Department page.
