The Nobleboro selectmen have ordered Minehatta Fire Co. Chief Woodbury McLean not to drive the town’s fire engines or other vehicles after his driver’s license was suspended for failing to pay child support, officials said.
Dick Spear, the chairman of the board of selectmen, said McLean was ordered not to drive the town vehicles about two weeks ago after town officials learned of his license suspension.
McLean, a 15-year-veteran of the department, was elected chief by the firefighters in January. The board subsequently appointed McLean the town’s fire chief.
In Nobleboro, the town owns the fire department vehicles. Spear said McLean could still respond to fire calls on the town’s behalf. There is no requirement for the fire chief to have a driver’s license
“He rides with a friend,” said Spear.
Spear also acknowledged officials are concerned that Superior Court Justice Andrew Horton signed an order barring McLean from having any contact with a 29-year-old woman who is a firefighter with the Bristol Fire Department.
“We have checked with our lawyer and are just waiting to see how this plays out,” said Spear. “If he violates the order and it becomes a criminal matter, it will become a different matter. Right now, it is a restraining order.”
In her petition for the court order, called a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order, the woman alleged in a sworn document that McLean has continued to text message and call her after she told him she wanted to stop their relationship because she felt he was too controlling.
The woman sought the order after talking to another Bristol firefighter and a sheriff’s deputy who urged her to seek help from the court.
After the deputy talked to McLean and told him to stop texting and calling the woman, McLean has not called her, the woman said in the affidavit.
Although McLean stopped calling the woman, he posted what appear to be several threatening statements on his Facebook page, prominently featuring foul language. Three of the postings are specifically cited in the woman’s complaint.
Spear said he did not know anything about Facebook.
McLean declined to comment on the PFA, saying it was a personal matter.
Asked about his Facebook postings, McLean said he was not making a specific threat against anyone. “It is not directed at anybody,” he said. “It is pretty much a freedom of speech factor.”
McLean said comments posted to his Facebook page were private. He added that there is a great deal of similar language on the Internet. “It’s a personal page,” he said “It’s like anything else. If anybody does know Facebook, they would know.”
McLean declined to comment on the status of his license or the board of selectmen’s letter to him. The matter is scheduled for a hearing April 22.
