RUMFORD – Ten firefighters accused by former Town Manager Jim Doar with violating town policy regarding politics on June 4, are serving disciplinary suspensions this week and into July.

Additionally, one longtime firefighter, Jeremy Volkernick, resigned effective July 6 after getting his one-day suspension without pay removed from his record by interim Town Manager Len Greaney.

All but one firefighter are serving or have served one-day suspensions without pay. They are acting Chief Richard Coulombe, Jeff Harren, Lt. Keith Bickford, Lt. Chris Bryant, Ed Carey, Butch Glover, Bill Johnston, deputy Chief Ben Byam and Lt. Rob Dixon.

Mark Tripp, the department’s Local 1601 union chief, was suspended for one week without pay.

According to Greaney, Doar suspended the men after Tripp wrote a letter to the editor in June 4 edition of the Rumford Falls Times saying that the union supported incumbent Selectman Greg Buccina and selectman candidate Robert Cameron.

The problem, according to Greaney and Doar, is that endorsing candidates in the selectmen’s race violates an ordinance governing police and fire departments.

The ordinance says no member of either department, including the chief, acting as an individual or in concert with others, can participate in any act designed to or tending to influence the election of a town official or influence any appointment.

Violating the provision constitutes cause for suspension or dismissal.

In a letter dated June 12, Doar notified Coulombe that he had to discipline the members of Local 1601 who voted to write and submit the letter by suspending them for a day without pay.

“Not only were these actions a clear violation of the town ordinances, but they serve to discredit all public servants,” Doar wrote. “It is vital that, as stewards of the public trust, we strive to hold ourselves to a higher professional and ethical standard. Participating in the political process undermines public confidence in professional administrators.”

Doar left the job on June 13 and has an unlisted phone number.

When contacted late Tuesday night, Tripp declined to comment other than say the union is going forward with a grievance against the town over the suspensions.

Coulombe deferred comment to Greaney, who said that incumbent Selectman Mark Belanger, who with Buccina ran for re-election, complained to the town manager about the union’s letter. Belanger and Cameron were elected; Buccina was not.

“If Mark had lost we could have been legally responsible for a fine by the state of Maine, so they put us at risk,” Greaney said Tuesday afternoon of the firefighters being disciplined.

Regarding Volkernick, Greaney said he refused to vote to go along with the others and tried to tell them that they would be breaking town rules. Greaney removed Volkernick’s suspension.

However, Volkernick, contacted Tuesday afternoon, said he resigned for personal reasons, but mostly because he is tired of the politics ongoing within the department and town regarding the Fire Department.

He served Rumford as a full-time firefighter for more than 14 years and spent three years on the town’s call force.

“I’m done as a firefighter,” Volkernick said. “I want to stay on the call force, but I haven’t got permission yet. I’ve always been a firefighter 24/7, so for me to give up, it hurts my feelings.”

Regarding the union vote, Volkernick said that besides himself, there was another firefighter who also didn’t vote to go along with the others because he was absent when the vote was taken.

“I’ve had enough with what’s going on internally and outside of the department. The past three town managers have come along and said they will take care of the problems and it’s been five years and nothing has been done. Len said, ‘Hang in there, things will get better,’ but it’s not worth the stress on my family,” Volkernick said.

Excerpts from the June 4 Rumford Firefighters Union Local 1601 letter to the editor endorsing two selectmen’s candidates:

“The Rumford Firefighters Union believes they are the most qualified for the job. Both are honorable men who will guide Rumford into the future with decorum and use the democratic process. They will lead with decency, propriety and dignity.

“Mr. Buccina and Mr. Cameron understand the importance of a stable and effective infrastructure to attract businesses and people while remaining fiscally responsible to the taxpayer.

“They have demonstrated a desire and ability to grasp the issues that challenge Rumford and will intelligently and objectively make their decisions. Vote for Buccina and Cameron for a better Rumford.”

It was signed by Local 1601 President and Rumford firefighter Mark Tripp