Attleboro Awards Former Firefighter $290,000 in Settlement

The Attleboro City Council voted this week to award former Attleboro firefighter William Dunn $290,000 in a legal settlement.

The announcement came in a written statement from Attleboro officials following a closed-door executive session meeting that included the city councilors, Mayor Kevin Dumas and Fire Chief Scott Lachance. The money will be transferred from free cash.

Dunn was fired from his job in 2009 after it was alleged by a private investigator that he was working for his maintenance business "Consider it Dunn" while he was out on disability. However, in 2011, the city was forced by the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission to rehire the firefighter/EMT.

According to the statement released by the city, $290,000 covers the period of April 2009 through Nov. 2011 when Dunn was terminated by the city.

Dunn, who has since retired, was making approximately $46,000 a year working for the City of Attleboro.

"The payment was calculated on the basis of Mr. Dunn's salary, vacation pay, sick pay, holiday pay, EMT stipend, Hazardous Pay stipend, longevity, defibrillator stipend, longevity, defibrillator stipend, medical insurance costs, out of pocket medical co-pays, plus interest," according to the statement.