LIVERMORE FALLS — Fire Chief Gerry Pineau has hired James Butler Jr. as the assistant fire chief, Town Manager Kristal Flagg said Wednesday.

There were four applicants for the position.

A committee consisting of Pineau, police Chief Ernest Steward Jr., Flagg and Dixfield fire Assistant Chief Chris Moretto were part of the interview process, Pineau said.

They were all good candidates, Flagg said.

“We did a point system and did an evaluation on all of them,” she said.

Pineau and Steward asked the candidates questions and Flagg and Moretto scored the answers on a point system, Pineau, of Jay, said.

Interviews were conducted Thursday and Butler, of Jay, a current Livermore Falls firefighter, was hired on Friday, Pineau said. Butler is a former Jay firefighter.

Pineau said he believed the assistant chief will be paid $3,000 a year, plus officers are paid an additional $10 an hour for fire calls and training.

There was another candidate that shined, Flagg said, but Butler had the administration skills needed for the job.

Butler replaces veteran Assistant Chief Ron Leclerc of Jay, who was terminated in September. Selectmen upheld Leclerc’s firing on Oct. 24, saying his actions toward Flagg and Pineau were insubordinate.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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