At the June 16 meeting the Greenland Board of Selectmen heard firefighter concerns over a townwide personnel policy that awards 10 hours for sick or vacation time while many firefighters work 12‑hour shifts.

A selectman who serves as the liaison to the fire department said he had met with firefighters and concluded “they have a very legitimate point that they should be getting 12 hours, not 10 hours.” Board members noted the practical effect: a 12‑hour shift means one sick day under the current 10‑hour rule does not provide a full shift off and that vacation and sick time do not align with the fire department’s shift structure.

The board also discussed language in the personnel handbook’s front page stating departmental procedures supersede the townwide policy. Several members said that sentence needs clarification because it appears to allow departments to override the main town handbook without a formal process. Members proposed a two‑step approach: keep a townwide master handbook and require department‑specific policies to be submitted and approved through a clear, documented process.

Why it matters: the issue affects employee leave coverage and overtime costs for the fire department and other departments with nonstandard shift lengths. Selectmen asked staff to gather department policy documents and to meet with police and fire personnel — including non‑chief staff — to collect feedback for possible amendments. No formal amendment was adopted at the June 16 meeting.

Board direction: staff and selectmen will convene meetings with police and fire personnel to identify specific conflicts between the town handbook and department policies, then return to the board with proposed clarifying language and procedural steps for approving department policies.