Two members of the Canterbury Fire Department have quit, and others could be on their way out after last Friday’s town meeting
Captains Donald Maurer and Scott Ruesswick have left their positions at the volunteer department within the last week, citing Canterbury residents’ decision to approve the purchase of a $340,000 fire engine recommended by Canterbury selectmen, despite the fire department’s plan to purchase a $490,000 engine.
Following an hourlong debate, voters chose to reject the fire department’s recommendation by paper ballot, 164-91. The selectmen’s recommendation was approved, 128-119.
When those results were read aloud, Chief Peter Angwin said in an interview at the station Thursday, “My whole department wanted to resign that night. My whole department feels like they’ve been let down and not supported by some of the townspeople and definitely the selectmen.”
While Angwin said he managed to persuade most of his 24 firefighters and EMTs to stay and let him sort things out with the board, Maurer and Ruesswick were done, and a few more may still leave, too. Maurer, who served for 25 years, said in an interview Thursday that after the meeting ended that night, “I gave the chief my pager and walked out.”