The City of Falmouth To Receive An Award

In a letter posted last night, the City of Falmouth tried to paper over the controversy by insisting,
“Don’t worry, we have fully funded the Fire Department.”

But reading between the lines, this letter reads more like a last-minute PR bandage than a real response to growing public concern. Why? Because Channel 19 ran a story with direct quotes from both the mayor and a councilman that sparked outrage for good reason.

Here’s the excerpt that started it all:

Councilmember Stephen Gales said there have not been conversations about shutting the department down for months. He said closure would not significantly impact response times.

“I don’t believe there would be no more of a delay than what they currently have,” Gales said.

Mayor Sabrina Hazen said the city cannot afford to fund both police and fire departments due to budget issues.

Both Hazen and Gales said a town hall would be held before any decision is made.

“I am completely opposed to anything being closed doors,” Gales said.

Now Let’s Talk About What’s Really Going On

Let’s be honest. If you’ve been watching the last several council meetings and we have, then you already know the truth is a little messier.

1. Gales Left the Fire Department on Bad Terms
Councilman Stephen Gales is a former member of the Falmouth Volunteer Fire Department. According to multiple sources inside and outside the department, he left under strained conditions. No one is saying it publicly, but it’s being whispered that he has a chip on his shoulder and that bias may be shaping his take.

2. Hazen Keeps Pushing for a City Manager
Mayor Sabrina Hazen has repeatedly said she wants to hire a city manager, someone to help run things because she’s in over her head. That’s not opinion. That’s her own stated goal.

The question is:
Where will the money come from to fund that new role?

3. The Police Budget Has Swelled Out of Control
Falmouth is pouring funds into the police department. Meanwhile, the fire department runs on a shoestring — $160,000 a year total. Yet Hazen says the city cannot afford both.

Let’s revisit her quote one more time for clarity:

“The city cannot afford to fund both police and fire departments due to budget issues.”
– Mayor Sabrina Hazen

This is not speculation. That’s her direct statement. And no amount of backpedaling in a Facebook post changes that.

Congratulations, Falmouth, You Earned an Award

You earned it for the attempt.
Not for transparency.
Not for leadership.

For crafting a carefully worded letter that ignored every concern raised by your own residents and pretended the problem was public misunderstanding rather than public awareness.

The people of Falmouth are paying attention now.

Whisper One Out.