The Auburn fire chief has chastised the Oxford town manager for allegedly prohibiting the use of any town emails or social media to distribute a retirement party flyer for the Oxford fire chief.
A retirement party for Oxford Fire Chief Sheri R. Bemis is scheduled for 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Auburn Elks Lodge, 754 Southbridge St., Auburn.
Over the weekend, Auburn Fire Chief Stephen M. Coleman Jr. posted on his personal Twitter account: “Sharing this for my friend retired Chief Bemis. After 30+ years with the department the #Oxford Town Manager would not allow any town email or social media to be used to distribute the flyer. That’s a hell of a thanks on the way out. #classless.”
On Monday, Chief Coleman said he was told directly by Paul D. Ford, serving as interim fire chief for Oxford since mid-July, that Town Manager Brian M. Palaia told Chief Ford he did not want town resources used to promote the party, including town emails and social media.