WEST PARIS — After recent personnel issues with West Paris Fire Chief Norman P. St. Pierre, town officials will be updating the current code of conduct for town employees.

St. Pierre pleaded guilty on July 11 to multiple charges stemming from shooting a bear and trespassing on a property in Hartford in 2015.

On the heels of the West Paris selectmen deciding to seek legal advice at the last meeting regarding St. Pierre after residents questioned possible disciplinary action, residents wanted to know where the situation with St. Pierre stood.

When resident Michael Grass asked if there were any updates on the fire chief, Town Manager Wade Rainey responded that they had been advised by council not to even mention the situation.

Grass raised questions regarding the town employee handbook.

“What good is the employee handbook of the town … discharges for cause includes violence … and we’re not even going to have a conversation with the gentleman?” he asked. 

Selectman Dennis Henderson echoed Rainey stating, “We have been advised not to (discuss) by the Maine Municipal Association and the town attorney.”

Selectman Randy Jones added that it was due to the fact that St. Pierre wasn’t on duty for the town at the time of the incident.

Grass asked selectmen if they could talk about updating the employee handbook and provided them with a copy of the town of Norway’s policy for their review.

Jones agreed that it needed to be updated. 

Rainey said that the updating of the town policy is already underway and the selectmen will review and improve it as needed.

In other news, the board:

• Approved for the Town Office to be closed on Thursday, Aug. 25, until 2 p.m. for clerks to attend a training session;

• Approved a bid by Bruce A. Manzer Inc. for $48,799 to pave an 1850s section of Benson Hill Road, beginning at the intersection with Morse Hill Road;

• Voted to appoint Michael Grass to the Budget Committee;

• Noted that improvements to the town ballfield were now underway.