LAGRANGE, Maine — Less than a week after the chief of a volunteer fire department in a central Maine town resigned, he has rejoined the department.
Chief William Franks announced he was leaving the Lagrange Volunteer Fire Department last week, sparking the departure of 13 other volunteer firefighters. Only three members stayed on following Franks' announcement, according to Lagrange first selectman Joe Poirier.
As a result, Lagrange selectman Corey Roberts (a former firefighter who has training qualifications) chose to step in as acting chief. The town also hired seven members from the community who volunteered as replacements -- but who did not have all of the requirements needed.
On Tuesday, September 24, Franks and his firefighting team met with Poirier and the town's other selectmen to try to reconcile their differences.
In a two-hour long meeting, each man expressed his frustrations with the town's system.
Franks said that the town is not as supportive as it could be to the volunteer fire department. He added that the equipment at the station is not in great shape, and he feels the department needs more attention from town officials.
"I’ve got a good team of firefighters, and they understand me, and I understand them," Franks told NEWS CENTER Maine after a private meeting with Poirier later on. "It was their choice on, you know, following me out the door."
Poirier acknowledged Franks' frustrations, but he said he thought Franks' departure was "abrupt". He also said some behavior among the department needed to improve in the future.
"We have to sit down and talk, and we have to start functioning on a professional level...Everybody’s opinion, everybody’s suggestions -- they have to be taken into consideration," Poirier told NEWS CENTER Maine.
The decision for Franks and the rest of his team to return to the Lagrange department was positive news for the neighboring towns of Alton, Bradford, and Milo, which were going to have to provided mutual aid, as needed. That had meant in the emergency of a fire, help could have been far away.
"Volunteering's tough, and we all know that," Poirier said directly to Franks Tuesday evening. "That's why I was so thankful to have you come back."
At Tuesday's meeting, it was apparent the rest of the original volunteer firefighters decided to return, as well.
The department and the town's selectmen will be meeting soon to discuss how to further go about changes within their system.
The last census for Lagrange determined a population of a little under 800 people.