WILTON – Selectmen approved a policy Tuesday night that prohibits firefighters from consuming alcohol or controlled substances while on duty, but does allow them to respond to calls with the odor of alcohol on their breath.
The policy also bans firefighters from buying alcohol while in dress uniform.
Fire Chief Sonny Dunham drafted a policy nearly word for word from the police department’s.
Selectmen added the provision that forbids alcohol purchases while in dress uniform. Dunham had omitted a uniform policy because he felt that even a fire department T-shirt could be construed as a uniform. He agreed to the amendment using the term “dress uniform.”
He also omitted the item not allowing firefighters to report to duty with the odor of alcohol on their breath saying it was too restrictive.
The smell could remain with someone responding to a 4 a.m. fire hours after a final beer had been consumed the previous night, Selectman Terry Brann said.
Dunham was reappointed fire chief by the board, with only Keith Swett opposing.
Selectmen also discussed the reappointment of Wayne Atwood as the town’s animal control officer. Atwood is paid $400 monthly to respond to animal complaints, but selectmen said they feel he is not doing an adequate job.
Board Chairman Russell Black said he had received many calls because of a “prolonged situation” in East Wilton last year and Atwood had called him Monday night to ask him to check on an animal complaint.
“We’re paying him to do that,” Black said.
Selectmen want to look at alternatives including having the Police Department handle future complaints. They approved Atwood’s appointment for three months to give them time to discuss their options.
Town Manager Peter Nielsen told selectmen that, according to Judge Richard Morton, a will that left funding for projects at “Wilton Academy” or a “free and public high school” was “clear and specific.” Morton had written an opinion on the Charles L. Green Fund in 2003 and, though the building is still standing, selectmen’s desire to use the $2,500 solely for Wilton schools “has little legal standing.” A representative from the Maine Municipal Association concurred with Morton’s appraisal, Nielsen said.
Morton advised Nielsen that, should selectmen want to have his decision overturned, it would require court action and legal services. A representative from Wilton did not appear in court when Morton made his decision, and selectmen asked Nielsen to investigate the costs of pursuing legal options.
Selectmen agreed to allow Bruce Manzer to shim and overlay Prospect Street rather than completely repave it, saving the town about $20,000, according to John Welch from the Public Works Department. The road has significant drainage and other issues and Manzer felt an overlay would last as long as a complete repaving. Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the process and asked Welch and Nielsen to find other projects in town that could be accomplished with the savings.
Selectmen also approved hosting a household hazardous waste collection day that will be Oct. 22.
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