WEST BATH

An ordinance making it possible to recall elected municipal officials passed without a great deal of discussion during Thursday night’s special town meeting, but voters engaged in considerable discussion before agreeing to establish a municipal fire department.

The recall ordinance is prodigious in scope. It contains 16 sections with subsections, and takes up three pages in the town report.

The ordinance stipulates the recall can be sought via petition based on perceived malfeasance, misfeasance, nonfeasance, lack of qualifications, violation of oath of office or criminal conviction.

Any 25 registered voters can file a notice of intent to recall with the town clerk. A public hearing would precede a recall election.

After passage of Article 50, the recall ordinance, Article 51 established a town fire department.

In the past, the town has been served by an independent fire association. The board included the article in the Town Meeting warrant so fire department personnel are subject to the same codes and personnel rules as other town officials.

“They’re on the payroll,” said Abbe Yacoben, chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen, prior to the meeting. “In the past, we have been following town ordinances and fire department bylaws.”

Yacoben said some residents were confused with the ordinance due to the impending retirement of Fire Chief Chester Swain.

Swain, who accepted an award for 50 years of service, will retire June 30.

“There were numerous questions with the chief retiring,” Yacoben said after the meeting.

Like the recall ordinance, the ordinance establishing a municipal fire department is detailed, with 10 sections including appointment of a chief by the Board of Selectmen, and duties.

Residents also were poised voted late Thursday on spending articles that amount to a $1,039,689 municipal budget — up $51,000 from last year.

lgrard@timesrecord.com

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