| Joanne Cole |
Fire Rescue members turned out at the Meetinghouse on Monday, providing visible support for Interim Chief Craig Bouchard to be formally named permanent full-time Fire Rescue Chief. Bouchard had been provisionally appointed by Town Manager Bill Kerbin following a committee search and interview process. But under New Gloucester’s ordinance and state law, the manager’s appointment must be confirmed by the Select Board.
To cut to the chase: The board voted 4-1 to confirm Bouchard, with member Stephen Hathorne the lone dissenter.
Reached for comment after the meeting, Chief Bouchard told NGX, “I’m excited by the opportunity to serve the Department and citizens and to continue to make forward progress, as we have been, to make the department a desirable place to work and provide citizens the professional and high quality service that they deserve.”
Before calling the vote, newly re-elected board Chair Paul Larrivee was also looking ahead. “I’m optimistic that this might solve a chapter,” Larrivee said, “where we have a long-term Chief and we have stability and we can grow from that stability.”
‘Moving forward’ could have been the theme for the June 26 board meeting as a whole. The board confirmed Emily Martin as Library Director. They also appointed several first-time applicants to town committees and boards.
In addition, first-time board member Colleen Strickler took her seat, succeeding Peter Bragdon, whom she complimented and thanked. Tammy Donovan was elected Vice Chair, a new role for her. “Thank you,” Donovan said to her colleagues, “I was not expecting that.” She succeeds Stephen Hathorne.
And in a sign of what’s to come, the Charter made multiple appearances at the June 26 meeting.
The board also planned a Q & A session on the Charter for Monday, July 17. The Public Safety Committee, Youth Trustees for the Library and toilets at the Fairgrounds were also topics at the June 26 meeting.
Craig Bouchard named Fire Rescue Chief. The Fire Chief appointment dominated public comment, with three Fire Rescue members who are residents praising Bouchard at the podium and by letter, and one resident speaking to express concerns.
Opposing confirmation was Don Libby, who recounted an emergency call for a family member this spring that was marked by Fire Rescue responders’ confusion and uncertainty. “If someone was having a heart incident or something, it could have been bad,” he said. “You can’t just lay the blame on staff or training. This is leadership. You have a big decision tonight,” Libby told the board. “Do not let this go.”
Chris Gill, a Fire Rescue lieutenant, stepped to the mic, offered an apology to Don Libby, and turned to the Chief position. Gill said Bouchard “has fostered an environment of positivity and morale” and always been available, while having concurrent responsibilities in the Auburn Fire Department. He has “supported the town unconditionally” during the department’s time without a chief, Gill said.
Citing Bouchard’s qualifications, experience and “unwavering leadership,” Paul Talley, a call company firefighter, also urged confirmation. Talley called the protracted period without a full-time permanent chief—nearly four years by his count—“an inexcusable delay” and “a disservice to the town.” He asked the board “to come together and do the right thing for the right reasons and confirm Chief Bouchard without further delay.”
Talley also alluded to emails—in circulation but not submitted as public comment—that apparently questioned appointing a ‘big-city’ chief who doesn’t live in New Gloucester, and raised doubts about response time. Chris Gill had said no issues resulted from Bouchard’s living in Lewiston – 22 minutes away, according to Google, Talley said. The department’s “strong chain of command” was recently demonstrated at a Sabbathday Road structure fire, Gill had said.
“The role of the Chief is not always to be first on scene,” Talley added. “It’s to command, control, and manage resources, budgets, lead and train the department.” The department has 24-hour coverage at the station, “a ton of trained call company firefighters and EMTs that do live in town,” and radios and cell coverage. A chief who’s worked in a larger town can bring advanced certifications and expertise, experience with a diverse range of emergency situations, and skills in long-range planning, allocating resources and prioritizing investments to meet local needs, Talley said.
In a letter, Hale Fitzgerald, a captain in the department and resident, cited Bouchard’s Advanced EMT license and noted that 70 percent of the department’s calls are EMS-related. “The job has changed,” Fitzgerald wrote, since decades past. Confirming Bouchard would “allow us to finally move forward as an organization.”
When it was board members’ turn, Stephen Hathorne expressed appreciation for the candidates and the manager’s search but felt there were “many legitimate concerns” expressed in numerous emails from and conversations with residents who opposed Bouchard’s appointment. “I vote no because I do not believe in this move,” Hathorne said.
Regarding concerns about response time, Vice Chair Donovan said the department has full-time staff in-house and that she, too, had had an emergency at her home and the response was prompt and efficient. As for the distance issue, Donovan said no one protested or sent emails when, in hopes of attracting more candidates, the board dropped from the position description the requirement that the chief live within 15 minutes of the town center.
Donovan said Bouchard had come before the board several times over his years as Interim Chief, “being knocked down and being asked to re-do and re-do and re-do,” yet returning professionally each time with what was asked for. “That shows true passion for his career,” she said. Addressing Bouchard directly, Donovan said, “I want you to make this your legacy. I truly believe you can.”
Bouchard brings 25 years in the fire service to his new post, having started at age 17 as a volunteer in Lisbon. He joined the New Gloucester department in 2019 and was promoted to Deputy Chief and served as Interim Chief for eight months between Toby Martin’s departure and the hiring of Jon Kiernan. He again became Interim Chief following Kiernan’s departure in November 2021.
Emily Martin named Library Director. Confirmation of Emily Martin as Library Director was swift and enthusiastic, with board members expressing support and appreciation for Martin’s commitment to the Library and its patrons.
Dustin Ward said Martin was doing an “amazing job” and thanked her for “taking on this next step,” a point echoed by Stephen Hathorne, who appreciated Martin’s “having stuck around through very turbulent times” and who thanked her for the commitment she was making. Tammy Donovan said she was excited to see where Martin will take the library. “Library cards for everybody!” said Donovan after the 5-0 vote.
Martin was present to hear the board’s affirmations in person. She came to New Gloucester as Assistant Librarian in February 2021, with a degree in library science and previous experience in public libraries and schools around the state. She has served as Interim Library Director since Jay Campbell’s departure in May.
Special Town Meeting on July 31. The board set a Special Town Meeting for held Monday, July 31, location TBA. Voters will consider whether to use $500,000 from the town’s Undesignated Fund Balance to offset taxation and an article that would tidy up FY22 account overdrafts.
The board considered but ruled out adding a budget request for voters to consider at the July 31 meeting. They discussed including a request for funds to prepare the administrative code required by the Charter and/or $20,000 for salary adjustments to retain employees. The board decided to wait on compensation until the next budget cycle and to hope that the existing legal services budget can also cover the administrative code.
Board and Committee appointments. Board and committee members serve staggered three-year terms that expire on June 30, so the board was poised to make several appointments. Once again, questions about the appointment process and criteria surfaced. The board has worked on revised appointment policies, but they are not yet complete.
This year, only the Budget Committee/Finance Committee had more applicants than seats: four applicants, two seats. The board discussed how to proceed, including whether currently serving members seeking reappointment get deference—the board may reappoint but isn’t required to, member Stephen Hathorne said—and whether serving on other committees weighs against an applicant.
Steve Libby and Brian Shedlarski had applied for re-appointment to the Budget Committee; both also serve on other committees. Peter Bragdon and Julie Fralich also applied. Bragdon serves on another committee; Fralich does not.
The board first appointed Libby, 4-1 (Ward). Nominating Fralich, Colleen Strickler noted that Fralich was not on other committees. Paul Larrivee agreed that the board’s guidelines give preference to those not currently serving on other committees. Fralich was appointed, 5-0. The effect appeared to be a different standard for Shedlarski than for Libby. Adding to the mix, Peter Bragdon had emailed to concede to Steve Libby and Brian Shedlarski, apparently on the assumption they would be reappointed.
The board moved on. Later, Shedlarski, Libby and Bragdon were all appointed or re-appointed to other uncontested seats. Altogether, this year’s appointments saw a mix of first-timers joining committees, familiar faces changing committees, and the familiar returning to the familiar.
Public Safety Committee. The charge of the Public Safety Committee was on the agenda for board review. Their charge is broad, encompassing “community and regional safety as it relates to law enforcement, fire protection, traffic, and transportation systems.” Specific responsibilities include identifying problems and recommending solutions, monitoring legislation, collaborating with the DOT, State Police, Cumberland County Sheriffs Office and other agencies, and educating the public. Read the full charge here. The Fire Rescue Chief and Public Works Director are members of the committee but have not typically attended.
The committee has been working on revising its charge, and the board began with that draft. But the focus quickly shifted as Vice Chair Tammy Donovan urged creating an advisory or “in-house” group with the Fire Rescue Chief, Public Works Director and Town Manager, and dissolving the Public Safety Committee, an idea she has raised previously. Donovan suggested that the Charter does away with staff liaisons to committees–it’s not clear where–so the Public Safety Committee would be changing anyway.
Stephen Hathorne promptly joined Donovan in advocating that the committee be dissolved immediately – at this meeting. No committee members were present, nor was it clear they knew they’d be on the chopping block. The agenda only included a discussion of the committee’s charge, as Dustin Ward pointed out.
Board members ended up touching on how committees interact with the board (or don’t), communication protocols, board members as liaisons, and the role and value of town boards and committees in general. No action was taken on Public Safety’s charge or dissolution. The board will instead consider the committee and its charge on July 17. Whether the board will also address broader questions involving boards and committees at that time is uncertain.
Youth Trustees for the Library. The Library Board of Trustees had proposed adding “Youth Trustee” seats for two high school students in its by-laws and needs board approval. The goal is to gain perspectives and representation from an age group whom the library could better serve, Colleen Strickler explained.
Board members welcomed the idea but wanted language added to clarify that appointments will be made by the BOS, as other Trustees are, and that legal guardians give permission for anyone under 18, as the Charter requires.
Bathrooms at the Fairgrounds. How’s that upgrade from problematic porta-potties to permanent toilets at the Fairgrounds going? What, where, when?
Manager Bill Kerbin reported that Parks & Rec Director Sarah Rodriguez, Town Planner Kathy Tombarelli and Public Works Director Ted Shane are working on it, investigating septic and location possibilities, permit requirements, and the needs and concerns of the Water District. Expect another update by early August.
Wrapping up. Just under the three-hour mark, the meeting adjourned. As soon as the cameras and mics were switched off, fellow board members turned to congratulate Colleen Strickler on completing her first board meeting. There was good-natured banter along the lines of ‘You had it easy! At MY first meeting, we had to…’ and lots of laughter.
Invited to share a quick reflection on her first meeting, Strickler told NGX, “I felt very welcome, and it was great to see so many people here to support our Fire Chief and supporting Emily as our Library Director.” Strickler, too, is looking ahead.
To watch video of the June 26, 2023, Select Board meeting, click here. Find Select Board agendas and related documents at this link.
