Town to search for fire chief
By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Town Administrator Gregory Barnes is in the process of looking for an interim fire chief.

The goal is to have an interim chief before Fire Chief William Donahue's last day of work in Townsend on March 16, said Board of Selectmen Chairman Robert Plamondon.

"We don't want any kind of lag time," Plamondon said.

The selectmen hire the fire chief, according to the town charter. Barnes will be involved in the search process and the board will listen to his recommendation, Palmondon said.

Plamondon said he hasn't decided how he wants to have the search conducted yet, but believes it will be a conversation the board will be having over the next few weeks.

"We are leaving all our options open at this point," he said.

He said there will also be a discussion between him and his colleagues about how the search process should take. Plamondon estimated it would take between six and 12 months.

"It is a difficult question to answer," he said about the timeline.