After a narrow defeat at the polls of an article that would have created a full-time fire chief, code enforcement and building inspector position, New Ipswich Fire Chief Gary Somero appeared before the Select Board Tuesday to discuss the future of the department.

The article, which failed by 17 votes, would have created a combined position to cover the duties of all three positions,  which Somero currently holds as part-time positions paid by stipend. The position would have been put into place mid-year, coinciding with Somero’s planned retirement in July.

Somero said his recommendation for after he retires is that second-in-command Ben Hatcher, one of the department’s deputy chiefs, would become the fire chief. Deputy Chief Cody Vaillancourt, currently third in command, would become Hatcher’s second-in-command.

“It just moves them up a step,” Somero said, noting that the Fire Department held an officers meeting to discuss the future, and the other officers indicated agreement with those appointments.

Hatcher said it would continue to be the aim of the department to seek turning the chief into a full-time position.

“That’s still where we really want to be,” Hatcher said. “I’m just going to fill in until we have that full-time position available. The goal is to have a full-time fire chief/building inspector, but there’s no one that can do the interim of both right now.”

Somero advised the board to begin the search for a replacement for his building inspector and code enforcement duties as soon as possible.

“What that’s going to leave open is the building inspector, and I would suggest you advertise the position, probably sooner rather than later,” he said.

Select Board Chair Shawn Talbot said he was not prepared to discuss the matter at length during Tuesday’s meeting. Selectman Jason Somero agreed that there was no immediate need to make a decision that night.

The board requested that Gary Somero, Hatcher and Vaillancourt return to the board on April 2, to further the discussion, as there was other Fire Department business already scheduled for that date. Talbot requested that his fellow board members prepare any questions they might have about the realignment for that meeting.

In other Fire Department business, Hatcher discussed the possibility of taking a flatbed F550 currently in use by the town’s Highway Department and converting it to a brush truck for the Fire Department.

“Our brush truck that we currently have is lucky to be running,” Hatcher said. “It’s going down the road of being a real headache.”

Hatcher said the Fire Department’s truck is actually owned by the state, with New Ipswich given permission to use it, so it does not make sense to put a large amount of funds into repairs. He said it would be more economical to put a tank, pump and some tools on one of the town’s existing vehicles, suitable for going off-road. The F550 is the oldest in the Highway Department’s fleet, and the department is willing to give the truck to the Fire Department.

The board offered no objection, and approved transferring the truck, with Talbot and Jason Somero in favor, and Lou Alvarez abstaining.

 Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.