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Selectboard reviews new state rule making town fire chief the fire warden
Summary
Town Clerk Patty told the Selectboard a state change effective July 1 makes a town's fire chief automatically the town fire warden, requires designation of a deputy, and requires towns to send standardized notification letters and post contact information.
Chair opened the meeting and the board moved into a town officers report led by Patty, the town clerk, about new state guidance. Patty said the state sent three letters and that the rule took effect July 1. She explained the core change: "the fire chief, your town's fire chief or whatever fire department that covers your town, they are your automatically your fire warden," and that towns now must collect and forward contact information and notify outgoing and incoming wardens.
Patty described the practical steps the town must take: send the provided template letters to the current warden and deputy, post the new contact details, and make sure residents are informed of who will declare burn bans. Board members pressed for clarity on who will take on ongoing communications with the fire chief and deputy; Patty asked for one or two board members to coordinate so the work does not fall solely to the clerk.
The board agreed to circulate the sample letters and to assign a board contact for follow-up. No formal vote was taken to change town staff roles; the board directed staff to distribute the template letters and post required contact information.
