| Joanne Cole |
Hiring for the library and fire and rescue topped the agenda for the board of selectmen on December 14. They approved revised job descriptions for library director and assistant librarian positions and heard town manager Brenda Fox-Howard’s plans and timeline for the library hiring process – assuming a library budget passed the following day, as it did.
On fire and rescue, the board voted to workshop the job description for a new fire and rescue chief, a search already under way following the resignation of Toby Martin effective December 6. The board deferred until after the holidays updating the 2003 fire and rescue ordinance currently in effect that they acknowledged doesn’t accurately reflect the department’s current organization or operations.
The board also heard from Fox-Howard about measures being taken to improve signage and safety at the intersection in the Lower Village, scene of collisions recently and over the years. And in other action, a schedule of BOS budget workshops and budget committee meetings was approved, and a games of chance license for cribbage tourneys at the Fraternal Order of Eagles got the board’s unanimous nod.
Fire and rescue chief hiring and job description. Discussion of whether and how to update the fire and rescue chief job description followed after Fox-Howard outlined her hiring plan. She will form a search committee comprising a chief from a nearby town, a representative from NG’s EMS side, another from the fire side, a citizen at large, and a select board representative—a spot quickly snapped up by Tammy Donovan—together with Fox-Howard herself. She predicted a 4- to 6-week hiring process and noted that ads had been posted and resumes were coming in.
Later on, the board turned to an action item concerning the job description for the fire and rescue chief position. Peter Bragdon expressed concern that different job requirements appear in the posted ad, the accompanying 2015 position description, and the town’s fire and rescue department ordinance.
In particular, the ad that’s up in the town office and online is silent regarding EMT or paramedic licensure and any requirement to reside in or close to town, items Bragdon thought any potential applicant should be aware of. The fuller 2015 job description linked to the ad online does require residence within 15 minutes of the town village center and requires at least an EMT basic license while noting a preference for a paramedic license.
But even the more detailed 2015 job description does not require a paramedic credential, a qualification all members appeared to want and at least one considered crucial. George Colby thought the chief position description should be changed to require a paramedic license, “no ifs, ands, or buts.”
Bragdon made a motion to workshop the job description. “We need to do it right,” he said, clearly troubled by inconsistencies across the relevant documents. His motion failed 2-3 (Gilles and Bragdon in favor; Chase, Colby, and Donovan opposed).
Condensed version of what followed: a motion by vice-chair Linda Chase to run with the existing 2015 job description failed 2-3 (Chase and Donovan in favor; Bragdon, Colby, and Gilles opposed) and a second try on a workshop motion passed 3-2, with Chase and Donovan opposed. Calendars consulted, the workshop was scheduled for Tuesday December 22 at 6:30 pm.
Fire and Rescue Department ordinance. The 2003 Fire and Rescue Department ordinance was itself an action item. The board agreed to defer that review until after the holidays. No date was set.
Chase asked Fox-Howard to meet in the interim with acting chief Craig Bouchard to review the current ordinance and the proposed ordinance that failed at a special town meeting in June 2019. Chase noted that among many other changes, in the years since 2003, the department has changed names, jobs, and moved from a volunteer model toward professional staffing.
Library staff hiring. Manager Fox-Howard anticipates forming a four-member search committee, consisting of one citizen at large, Linda Chase as select board liaison to the library, CeCe Rohrbach as chair of the library trustees, and Fox-Howard. The board swiftly approved job descriptions for library director and assistant librarian positions. Fox-Howard plans to post the ads “right away” and expects hiring to take four to six weeks. It remains unclear when the library’s doors will open, she added. Depending on conditions, library services may start up curbside only.
Stop signs at Lower Village intersection. Following a recent collision at the intersection, Fox-Howard and public works director Ted Shane conferred and have ordered oversized lighted stop signs for Cobbs Bridge Road and Gloucester Hill Road in the Lower Village. Fox-Howard said the signs were ordered through Maine DOT, and she hopes they will arrive in the next 30 days.
Budget season. The board approved as a working document a schedule for upcoming select board budget workshops and budget committee meetings, and they appointed Paul Larrivee and Brian Shedlarski to the budget committee. The schedule has the board and committee meeting independently. But Chase recalled a previous suggestion that the two groups meet jointly to hear directly from department heads. Fox-Howard might return with a revised calendar.
Cribs, skunks, and flushes at the Eagles. Low-stakes cribbage is the cards for the Fraternal Order of Eagles in 2021, as the board unanimously approved their request for a games of chance license.
For the agenda and supporting documents for the December 14 select board meeting, click here.
To watch the video of the December 14 select board meeting, click here.
