The Westport Island selectmen's meeting on Monday, June 11, was the setting for a surprise celebration for newly retired fire chief Robert “Bob” Mooney.

Believing he needed to attend the meeting to discuss safety matters, Mooney took his seat among many well-wishers and waited for the meeting to begin.

At 7 p.m., Selectman George Richardson announced a matter not on the agenda was going to be discussed, and asked Mooney to come forward. He handed Mooney a gift from the fire department. It was an inscribed wooden box.  

Richardson thanked Mooney and presented him with the newest edition of the town’s annual report. The report is dedicated to Mooney and his 25 years of service to the Westport Volunteer Fire Department. He served as a member from 1992 to 2006 and as chief from 2006 to Jan. 31.

In his Dec. 31, 2017 resignation message to selectmen, Mooney said his goal as chief had been to “leave something better than I found it.”

“I believe it’s time for someone with new perspective, management and leadership skills to take over,” Mooney said. In a January interview with the Wiscasset Newspaper, Mooney said he felt the department needed “more vitality and more volunteers,” and he thought a change would bring those.

The town report’s dedication reads in part, “Bob has met his goal in leaving the department better than he found it. The report cites a number of his accomplishments, including getting grants for programs and equipment, computerizing recordkeeping and reporting systems, ensuring department compliance with Bureau of Labor standards, initiating a reflective numbering sign program for homes and managing the department's transition to a nonprofit.

The dedication thanks Mooney for his dedication and his family for their support of his service.

Stacey Hutchison is now chief.