DIXFIELD – Selectmen on Monday accepted the resignation of longtime Fire Chief Scott Blaisdell and appointed another longtime fire company member, Scott Dennett, interim chief.
In his letter of resignation, Blaisdell, a NewPage Corp. employee, wrote that he was leaving the post he held for 15 years because of other community service obligations.
In addition to serving as fire chief, Blaisdell has also been the town’s fire warden and emergency management director, positions from which he also resigned.
Dennett, an 18-year member of the fire company, is a personal lines manager for Western Maine Associates, an insurance agency in Rumford.
He’ll be interim chief until the department’s annual elections in January. At that time, a new chief will be chosen for a two-year term.
The position of town fire warden is appointed by the Maine Forest Service. Dennett said a sufficient number of firefighters are currently authorized to issue fire permits so no one should be inconvenienced until a new fire warden is selected.
EMA director needed
Selectmen must begin a search for an emergency management director. Although Blaisdell has filled all three positions for many years, appointments can be made separately to these jobs.
The emergency management director coordinates all necessary activities in the event of a town emergency, such as the Ice Storm of 1998.
In other matters, board Chairman Tony Carter said a letter has been written by the Holman family offering the Holman Homestead on the Common Road to the town as a historic site and attraction.
Selectmen had taken no action on a verbal offer made earlier in the year, preferring to wait until the offer was made in writing. The circa 1800 Holman building has been owned by the oldest family in town, which was one of the town’s founders.
At Monday’s meeting, the board tabled action until the condition of the home could be determined.
Charlotte Collins, a member of the Dixfield Historical Society, said a representative from the state’s Maine Historical Commission could inspect the building. Carter said he has recently learned that the Maine Municipal Association has grant money for historic preservation.
The board must also determine the costs of any necessary repairs and whether the building must be handicapped accessible if it is owned by the town and opened to the public.
In other action, the board authorized the purchase of a new four-wheel-drive pickup truck for use by the Public Works Department for $17,800 from Quirk Auto in Bangor. It will replace a 1989 model.
Comments are no longer available on this story