By Katy Savage
Fire Chief Chris LaHart verbally gave a two-week resignation on June 14 after a tumultuous start to his tenure —though Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth said the resignation is not official.
“I have nothing in writing,” Hagenbarth said. “I’m not going to speculate.”
LaHart did not immediately return a phone call on June 15.
LaHart moved to Vermont from Virginia and took the reins of the fire department in January. He has since seen at least 25 longtime firefighters, emergency responders and search and rescue team members quit, retire and be terminated— many of which called LaHart a bully.
Hagenbarth declined to comment on the reason for LaHart’s verbal resignation or his current status.
“I can’t comment on personnel,” he said.
The Select Board called an emergency meeting the morning of June 15 to discuss personnel. No decisions were made at the meeting.
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