By Nick P. Angelides,Special to the Sun Journal

SABATTUS – After issues surfaced regarding volunteer firefighters not being covered by the town’s insurance or workers’ compensation when not suppressing fires, the department submitted a letter of building maintenance duties that the town can no longer take for granted.

“We’ve been doing these tasks since the beginning,” Fire Chief Don Therrien said. “But now things are different seeing my men are not covered.”

Selectmen asked the chief to supply a list of tasks that are not covered under fire suppression that could be a potential liability to any volunteer firefighter. The list includes repairs in and outside of the fire station, floor maintenance, cleaning windows and changing light bulbs.

“These tasks may sound simple, but if I have one of my guys fall off a ladder, I have no way of covering for them,” Therrien said. A higher level of risks lies with some of the more physical tasks such as snow removal from the entrances and roofs of the two stations. The list also included any training for fire prevention, attending public events and hose testing.

“Please be aware and on record that we are not jeopardizing the safety of the citizens of Sabattus,” the chief writes in the letter. “The fire apparatuses will be maintained and will respond to all emergency calls.”

Selectmen and the Fire Department are planning to meet again and see how some of these issues may be resolved. Some suggestions during the selectmen’s meeting was to hire a volunteer firefighter to do some of the maintenance around the stations, allowing him or her to be covered under the town’s insurance policy. The possibility of contracting out to a cleaning company also was mentioned.

No set date has been set for the meeting.

After a brief controversy on the proper procedure for installing a town charter committee, the panel became official last week when the town elected six residents to fill the majority of the roster needed.

The town’s next step is to appoint three more members to the committee to fulfill its commitment. Selectman Stephen Wood volunteered to sit on the committee and recommended that Town Clerk Robin Dulac serve as the group’s secretary. The town is now looking for two more participants and said it will turn to a previous list of interested people. Dulac, acting as secretary, will not be considered part of the committee’s voting body.

Once all roles are filled, an announcement will be made on when the charter committee will meet.

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