Fire chief's family members suspended in NH

Four employees, including two of the fire chief's family members, are dealing with terminations or suspensions

By Dan O'Brien
The Union Leader

CHICHESTER, N.H. — The town's fire department appears to be in personnel turmoil as four employees, including Fire Chief Gilbert Vien's family members, deal with terminations or suspensions.

Vien's brother, Cliff Vien and his wife, Dianne Vien, who work as ambulance drivers, have been suspended 30 days over an undisclosed incident. Dianne Vien was originally fired but appealed the decision to selectmen, who agreed to order the suspension instead.

A listed home phone number for Cliff and Dianne Vien in Pittsfield was disconnected on Friday.

Selectmen chair Steve MacCleery says he cannot discuss what led to the Viens' suspensions because it might violate employee privacy laws. Chief Gilbert Vien did not return a call for comment.

The Viens' case is just the latest personnel problem erupting inside the fire department.

Fire Warden Steve Stock, who's long been at odds with Vien, was essentially fired by selectmen on Dec. 29. They voted 2-1 to rescind their nomination for his reappointment to his position this year. Selectman Richard DeBold cast the opposing vote.

The board later voted to appoint Vien as fire warden.

Despite the selectmen's decision, Stock continues to work as fire warden. He says the Division of Forest and Lands has the final say in the matter and he'll continue working until the agency makes a decision.

Stock, who works full-time as a Concord firefighter, had worked for the Chichester fire department in 2007 but was fired under Vien. He was appointed fire warden last year.

According to minutes of recent selectmen meetings, the board voted to remove Stock because he admitted releasing information discussed in a non-public session to Deputy Fire Warden Matt Cole.

Stock says selectmen discussed allegations against Cole that could have led to his termination, but never informed Cole about the meeting.

"I still feel I did the right thing by letting my subordinate know they were talking about him," Stock said Friday in a phone interview. "He should be entitled to fight any of the allegations against him."

MacCleery said he stands by his vote to not reappoint Stock, saying he takes confidentiality issues seriously.

"I've been accused that I'm out to get him," MacCleery said. "The only reason was the confidentiality issue."

Stock says he's been targeted for termination because Vien accused him of over aggressive enforcement of outdoor burning laws on a resident who's repeatedly broken them. The incidents with the resident were discussed several times with selectmen, according to minutes.

"The board does not want to deal with anybody who holds people accountable to the same standard across the board," Stock said. "There's been no dereliction of duty in terms of my job performance as a warden."

In a third department personnel matter, former emergency medical technician Daryl Wyatt spoke with selectmen Jan. 26 about appealing his termination for an incident that occurred in June. According to selectmen minutes, Wyatt attended an EMT training session while under suspension, which violated the terms of his punishment.

Officials thought Wyatt was under investigation by the state Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, but Wyatt said publicly an investigation never occurred.

Selectmen requested more information on the incident before allowing a formal appeal to move forward.

Stock says all of the personnel issues are the result of town officials who too often conduct business behind closed doors.

Stock said of his termination in 2007, "The chief and the board had several non-public sessions regarding whether I should be terminated on the allegations leveled against me. The board has not shared any of those allegations with me citing they were non-public and that I'm not entitled to that information."

There were so many fire personnel present for the Jan. 26 selectmen's meeting that it had to be moved to a larger location. Cole, the deputy fire warden, says they expect to pack tomorrow night's meeting as well.

"The show isn't over," Cole said.