Dec
14
2015

Regular Meeting (12-14-2015)

Selectmen Present:                Suzan Rudnicki, Douglas Small, John Luce, Earlyn Bowers and Joseph Pelletier

Town Manager:                    Tom Richmond

Recording Secretary:            Coreen Sylvester

Guests Present:                      Fire Chief Ryan Simpson, Assistant Fire Chief Ralph Shaw and Robbin Lanpher

7:30 PM: Suzan Rudnicki called the meeting to order.

Selectmen's Administrative Hearing:

Chairman Suzan Rudnicki asked Robbin Lanpher if he wanted the hearing in executive session or in open session.

Robbin Lanpher stated that he wanted the hearing to be in open session.

Mr. Lanpher stated that he had requested a hearing because he received a letter from Assistant Chief Ralph Shaw in October 2015. He expressed his concerns that he had not received due process because the rules have changed; if the selectmen never received the new policy with changes, then it cannot be enforced.

Lanpher stated that he has been unable to attend meetings due to his being very busy on his job which required long hours and a lot of traveling. He also stated that he had been sending e-mails to Chief Ryan Simpson and Chief Assistant Chief Shaw stating he was unable to attend and never received a reply.

Robbin also stated that he had intended to get done with the fire department at the end of the year anyway, once he had the Boy Scout Charter transferred to the Simpson Memorial Library. 

Robbin requested that the Board of Selectmen cancel the letter from Assistant Chief Ralph Shaw and he will turn in his resignation & let him continue on the fire department until December 31, 2015. Robbin said he was terminated without due process, since the absent member policy was instituted after he stopped being able to attend meetings. 

Chief Ryan Simpson told the Board of Selectmen that he had not seen Robbin in the last seven months and that if he was sending e-mails to the old e-mail address he wasn't using it anymore. Chief Simpson stated that the Assistant Chief Shaw had only received two e-mails from Robbin. He also stated that the letter was not a termination letter, it was a notice that he had not met his training requirements and could not be a fireman. Chief Simpson also stated that Robbin Lanpher was not the only person to receive a letter, and Bill Crowley had told Ryan he thought Robbin was done.

Assistant Chief Shaw said he did not receive any communications from Robbin from May 6 thru Oct 27, and that Robbin had not attended mandatory training and could not respond to any calls.

Rebuttal: Robbin Lanpher stated he has spoken with other people who have missed a lot of meetings, but they did not receive a letter.  Robbin said he did not tell Bill Crowley he was done, and he cannot attend calls because he does not have a pager.  Robbin stated the email is still active on the Fire Department's facebook page, and all the mandatory training was in January and February; he was never notified he had missed any mandatory training.

Assistant Chief Shaw agreed to accept Robbin Lanpher's letter of resignation as long as Robbin returns his uniform and any other fire equipment. Robbin gave Chief Simpson his key and said he would return all equipment by the end of the month.

Robbin also stated that he will return all fire department equipment by December 31, 2015

Accidents on Interstate (Policy for Charging): Suzan Rudnicki made a motion to accept the Policy for billing for accidents we respond to on the interstate. John Luce seconded.  Joe stated that rates for fuel spills and jaws of life extrication should be added to the rates charged.  Motion was amended to reflect additional rates and all car accidents, not just interstate accidents.  Five voted in favor.

Tom told the Board that last year during the annual audit it was determined that many of the Fire Department grants had already been expended; the uniforms purchased were not funded under the grants, and $3,600.00 to pay Allen Uniform had to come from this year's fire department equipment funds.

MINUTES: John Luce made a motion to accept the minutes of December 7, 2015 as  amended.  Earlyn Bowers seconded. Five voted in favor.

WARRANT: John Luce made a motion to accept the full-time fireman’s payroll warrantof December 14, 2015 in the amount of $828.07. Earlyn Bowers seconded.  Five voted in favor.

WARRANT: John Luce made a motion to accept the payroll warrant of December 14, 2015 in  the amount of $20,628.60. Earlyn Bowers seconded.  Five voted   in favor.

WARRANT: John Luce made a motion to accept the accounts payable warrant of  December 14, 2015 in the amount of $11,209.99. Earlyn Bowers seconded. Five voted in favor.

ADJOURNMENT: Sue Rudnicki made a motion to adjourn.  Earlyn Bowers seconded. Five voted in favor. Meeting adjourned at 8:36 pm.