Sanbornton welcomes its new fire chief

SANBORNTON — Selectmen swore-in Paul Dexter Jr. Wednesday night as the town's third full-time fire chief.

Dexter, who was accompanied by his wife Carol and their three children, Justin Dexter, Emilio Sanchez and Jenna Sanchez at last night's ceremony, will relocate to the area.

A native of Bellows Falls, Vt. Dexter served and the Fire Chief of North Walpole, N.H. from 1990 to 2003 before become a site coordinator at the Vermont Fire Academy and state fire instructor.

He is a retired member of the U.S. Coast Guard and leaves his current job as one of three full-time firefighters in Bellows Falls.

Dexter said that while Vermont is his home, it and New Hampshire enjoy close interdepartmental working relationships and he has a number of friends in the Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid system including Chief David Parenti of Belmont, Chief Brad Smith of Franklin and Bristol Fire Chief Steve Yannuzzi, who joined him at yesterday's swearing in ceremony.

"I'm honored to come here," said Dexter adding he looks forward to working with the Sanbornton team and the LRMFA which he described as one of the best associations in the nation. "I'm looking forward to a long career here."

Dexter replaces Chief John DeSilva who retired in March to teach at a Boston-area college.

Dexter's first day is June 6. His position is budgeted at around $54,000 annually.

Selectmen chose Dexter after conducting interviews with a specially convened panel that consisted of area fire chiefs, a ranking member of the Sanbornton Department and a selectman's representative.