Whitefield’s new rules and regulations for firefighting “take all the fun out of it,” said town fire chief Jim Brann.
After selectmen Steve McCormick and Kurt Miller approved the guidelines at their regular meeting Jan. 5, the chief also said the “politically correct” rules and job descriptions “protect us in the future. It’s insurance that we’ve done everything the way we’re supposed to do it.”
Board chair McCormick said liability was the engine driving the process. “It covers us legally,” he reported. Firefighters are employees of the town and the regulations “give procedures for hearings and grievances,” he said. There are steps for disciplining and terminating employees, for example.
“As long as we go through the steps,” McCormick said, “at the end of the day when the select board makes a decision, that’s the final decision. The only way it could go to court would be if this process is not followed.”
The several sections offer definitions of such terms as chain of command, insubordination, officer in charge, on duty. Topics such as hazardous materials and conduct are also covered. “Horse play” at emergency scenes and training sessions is prohibited, as is profane or abusive language during radio communications.
The guidelines do not dismantle the three fire associations, located in each of Whitefield’s three villages. Instead of chiefs and assistant chiefs in each station, however, these officers will have different titles and responsibilities. Current appointments will stay the same. Deputy chief is now Scott Higgins, former Coopers Mills chief; assistant chief in charge of safety is Randy Brann, former chief at Kings Mills; assistant chief in charge of training is Tim Pellerin, former North Whitefield chief. David Bodge continues as chief of the rescue service. Fire captains are Tim Yorks, Tom Hickey, and young Jim Brann.
Next November, the selectmen will do a review process McCormick said. If there are vacancies, the positions will be advertised and the applicants will be interviewed. The chief gets to make appointments that are then submitted to selectmen for confirmation.
Chief Brann said he was “pretty sure” neighboring towns, including Jefferson and Windsor, have similar guidelines in place. With the greater regimentation and increased response to calls, the town’s volunteer firefighting service “is getting to be a job,” he commented after the meeting.
Whitefield receives 100 calls a year, he said, and First Responders another 150. “When I started, we got about 20 a year,” Brann said.
