GILL — Fire Chief Gene Beaubien hopes to stay in his job past the normal retiring age of 65, but he needs a Special Town Meeting vote first.
The meeting, to be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, will ask voters to allow Beaubien to stay in his job until his 70th birthday in January 2025. The vote on the fire chief is the only question on the meeting warrant.
To entice people to show up, re-usable shopping bags will be handed out on a first come, first served basis, Town Administrator Ray Purrington said. He has about 30 bags to give away. (Coincidentally, the Big Y in Greenfield will no longer be using single-use plastic bags as of Aug. 1)
Beaubien has been the fire chief since 2001, and has been on the department since 1992, plus a few years in the ’70s, he said. He grew up in Turners Falls, where his grandfather, uncle and cousin were on the fire department. He’s lived in Gill since 1984.
Beaubien is now 64. State law normally requires fire chiefs to retire at age 65. The Special Town Meeting article, if approved, asks state lawmakers for special legislation to allow Beaubien to stay on the job until age 70.
Purrington said he has notified state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and state Rep. Susannah Whipps, I-Athol, that the town may pursue this. Once it leaves Gill and goes to the State House, the timeline for the legal process depends on how busy the legislature is, and could take several months, Purrington said. He was optimistic that Gill has allowed enough time before Beaubien’s 65th birthday in January for the legal situation to be sorted out.
Beaubien said he does not yet have plans regarding retirement, but does not know if he will stay in his job until 70.
“Hopefully I can stay until 70,” he said. “I want to stay on.”
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 261.