NEW GLOUCESTER — Fire Chief Gary Sacco has resigned, effective Oct. 2, Town Manager Paul First announced at Monday night’s selectmen meeting.

In his letter dated Sept. 14 he said he plans to retire.

Sacco joined the Fire Department as a volunteer in 1996 and worked his way up to being the first hired chief in 2004. He has seen construction of a fire station on Route 100 and the birth of a town-operated ambulance service.

Sacco said in his letter that his career in the emergency services field began in 1975 when he took his first EMT class and joined Westbrook Rescue. After taking a 10-year break, he began as a call firefighter for South Portland in 1987, and moved to the same position in Westbrook from 1992-95.

Board members expressed their appreciation to Sacco for his years of service and leadership to advance the town’s fire and rescue unit.

In other business, the board reviewed 13 properties acquired for unpaid taxes.

Voters in May approved selling the properties if a payment plan with owners failed. Owners were they had until Sept. 15 to redeem their properties.

The board took no action on a property at 46 Estes Road since a payment is expected.

The board agreed that a 6.5-acre lot on Penny Road has the interest of a local public access nonprofit group. Since a proposal is pending, the board agreed to take no action.

A vacant vandalized mobile home at 328B Sabbathday Lake Road is a liability for the town. An oil tank pulled out of a shed and tipped over has alerted Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection for a recommendation. The board agreed to take no action for 48 hours, then clean up the property, remove the home and sell the lot.

The board will have a mobile home at 175 Lewiston Road removed.

Revisions to the General Assistance Ordinance Appendices A through D were approved.

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