Tensions have boiled over between Mulgrave‘s fire chief and the town’s chief administrative officer.
About a dozen volunteer firefighters sat in the room as Michael Breen, the chief of the Mulgrave Volunteer Fire Department, delivered a “position update” during January’s regular town council meeting Monday night.
He said councillors delivered a letter asking him to resign due to health concerns, but it was really because he didn’t get along with Darlene Berthier-Sampson, the town’s CAO.
After the meeting, Breen said he may have made comments about his health, but they weren’t about the job- his health is impacted from dealing with Berthier-Sampson.
“That’s not from the fire department or fighting fires- it’s because of her,” he said. “I put 41 years in there, and I don’t think they’re treating me good.”
Breen said the CAO put her nose in other people’s business.
He said she shouldn’t try to run the fire department.
“I’m done fighting with her,” he said. “From now on, I’m going to let my secretary/treasurer meet with her.”
Breen said he doesn’t intend to resign.
Berthier-Sampson said the department is a town service, operated from the town’s budget, and insured by town officials, so they need to know what’s going on.
“I’m asking some questions, and it turns out I’m asking questions that no CAOs have asked in a number of years,” she said. “When I’m asking these questions, I was told I’m sticking my nose into somewhere it does not belong.”
Berthier-Sampson said she asked for the department’s finances and staff training records, but they were never provided.
She said they found out-of-date extinguishers and a furnace that hadn’t been cleaned in seven years, which makes it a fire hazard, during an inspection of the fire hall Monday.
“I cannot assure the residents of Mulgrave that we have firefighters who can drive the truck because it’s standard,” she said. “There’s people that are new that don’t have training.”
Berthier-Sampson said there needs to be accountability.
Councillors have agreed to meet with members of the fire department’s executive to try to resolve the issues and improve communication.
Breen said he doesn’t plan to attend.
