MATTAWAMKEAG, Maine — The Board of Selectmen has appointed Michael Coombs as the town’s interim fire chief for the second time, the chairman said Sunday.
The board also voted Tuesday to name Beth Peters as the town’s interim emergency medical service chief. Both votes were unanimous, Chairman John Whitehouse said.
“He is excellent on both sides of the department,” Whitehouse said Sunday of Coombs’ experience in EMS and fire service. “And he has done it (the job) before.”
The 35-year firefighting veteran and former Mattawamkeag fire chief was appointed interim chief in May 2013. Coombs served in that position until July, when Robert Powers was reinstated as fire chief.
Whitehouse and Coombs declined to comment on why selectmen opted to replace Powers with Coombs, describing the situation as a personnel matter that involved the town’s attorney.
“I am just filling in until they decide what they are going to do with a permanent position,” Coombs said Sunday.
Powers, who has an unlisted telephone number, was placed on administrative leave without pay in April 2013 after allegations he and his family bought at least $9,000 in gasoline for personal vehicles with a town credit card intended for fire department use.
Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy declined to sign an arrest warrant in February 2014 charging Robert Powers with Class D theft.
Almy said he doubted the allegations were provable. By signing warrants addressing the purchases, selectmen effectively approved them, Almy has said.