Millinocket Fire Chief Jonathan Cote was placed on administrative leave on May 1, according to internal emails obtained by the Bangor Daily News.
The reason for Cote being placed on leave was not included in the emails, which were sent by the town’s human resources director and first reported on by CBS affiliate WABI. The town is conducting an investigation, but the leave is not a disciplinary action, according to the emails.
While on leave, Cote will continue to get paid but is not allowed to contact any of his staff or enter the fire department without written approval from Town Manager Peter Jamieson.
When asked about Cote being on leave Thursday, Jamieson said he couldn’t share any information because it’s a “personnel matter.”
When the BDN called Cote that same day to ask if he was on leave, he said, “That’s not the case,” and hung up the phone.
The East Millinocket Police Department is not involved in Millinocket’s investigation, according to the department.
Second Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Farrington is the interim fire chief during Cote’s leave, according to the emails.
