Athol fire chief quits after talks

The Athol fire chief resigned last week over what he described as a difference in management philosophies.

Rich Graeber ended his more than four years at the fire department on Wednesday, after a month of talks with the district’s Board of Commissioners.

“I’m one of those people who will say it like it is,” Graeber said Monday, explaining the clash in management approaches. But he added that the separation was amicable, and said that because of the dedication of volunteers, his leaving will not have a negative impact on the department’s ability to respond to calls.

Board of Commissioners President Sam Scheu could not be reached for comment Monday. He said in an interview last week that an employee review of Graeber was ongoing, but declined to give more details because it involved “personnel matters.”