The fire chief who has been on paid administrative leave for more than two months has been reinstated.
In a 3-0 vote Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen reinstated Fire Chief Peter Martell and took him off paid administrative leave, which he has been on since Jan. 10. On Jan. 10, Chief Martell was chastised by Stephen J. Comtois II, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and Linda M. Lincoln, vice chairman, for spending $33,814 of town money - money that was put aside for such a purchase - for a 2017 Ford Expedition.
In addition to the purchase, Ms. Lincoln said, Chief Martel submitted an electric bill from his home address with two Fire Department bills that was flagged by the town accountant. Chief Martel repeatedly said that submitting the personal expense was an honest mistake.