The Nobleboro Board of Selectmen sent a letter on April 15 to every member of the Minnehata Fire Co. in Nobleboro asking them to “find a solution” to recent problems that have arisen with the Nobleboro Fire Chief, according to the letter.
The state suspended Fire Chief Woodbury McLean’s driver’s license for failure to make child support payments, and the selectmen subsequently ordered him not to drive any town vehicles. In Nobleboro, the town owns the fire department vehicles, and it is the selectmen’s responsibility to appoint the fire chief.
“The Town has traditionally accepted the Company’s choice of leadership in appointing Town officers,” the selectmen wrote in the letter. “We wish to continue to defer to your choices.”
There is no requirement that the fire chief appointed by the town be the same as the leader elected by the fire company. There is also no requirement that the fire chief have a driver’s license.
The selectmen are not taking any action to remove the fire chief or appoint a new one at this time, as there have been no criminal charges against McLean. “We’re waiting to see how this plays out,” Select Chair Dick Spear said.
However, the selectmen are concerned that the problems McLean is facing are having a negative impact on fire department leadership and the “Town’s abilities to respond to fires and emergencies,” according to the letter. “It also appears that the continuing controversy may also be adversely reflecting on the town and Company,” the selectmen wrote in the letter.
Along with his license being suspended, the selectmen are concerned about a Protection From Abuse order against McLean filed by a 29-year-old female Bristol Firefighter. The court granted the PFA based on the woman’s allegations that McLean continued to text message and call her after she told him she wanted to stop their relationship because she felt he was too controlling.
After a sheriff’s deputy told McLean to stop texting and calling the woman, McLean has not called her, the woman said in the affidavit.
The letter was sent following the selectmen’s consultation with attorney Jonathan Hull at their regular meeting on April 14. Hull advised the selectmen that they are responsible for appointing the fire chief, and assisted them in drafting the letter, board members said after the meeting.
The selectmen have heard comments from several members of the fire department relating to problems within the department and conflicts with the company’s leadership, Spear said.
“We felt we needed to do something, and this is what we chose to do,” Spear said. “We want them to work on working together better.”
McLean declined to comment on the letter or the issues it pertains to.
The selectmen have not yet heard any response to the letter from the fire department, Spear said.
