Government

New Gloucester town manager names interim fire chief — Sun Journal

By Ellie Fellers, Special to the Sun Journal – November 19, 2018

Town Manager Carrie Castonguay announced at Monday’s selectmen meeting that Sherman Lahaie of Naples would serve as interim fire chief starting Monday.

Earlier this month, former Fire Chief James Ladewig returned to work after a paid administrative leave. He resigned the day after his return and after an investigation by Castonguay.

At the same time, Castonguay suspended Deputy Fire Chief Roger Levasseur, who has served the department for decades and was in charge of the department while Ladewig was on leave.

She said she could not discuss the issue because it is a personnel matter.

In other business Monday, the board reviewed capital improvements for public works, the transfer station, the Town Hall and library, fire and emergency medical services and administration, assessing and general government.

The Capital Improvement Committee ranks the projects and capital reserve accounts for the coming year and the board makes the final decision for funding requests to be presented to voters.

Some items for capital reserve accounts include heat pumps for cooling and supplemental heat, upgrades/replacement of the fire station computer server, replacing the town’s telephone system and a matching fund reserve for any grants the town receives.

Department budgets are due by Nov. 29. The town manager will distribute budget books to the board by Jan. 23, 2019.