Select board delays action on land use ordinance changes while seeking additional review.

Carrie Jones

Jan 10, 2026

TRENTON—Fire Chief Steve Heckman stood before the Trenton Select Board members January 6 and said, with a bit of understated deadpan, “December ended up being quite a busy month.”

There was a structure fire on December 22. That fire ended up destroying a Trenton resident’s house at 48 Pressey Lane. But, a firefighter was also injured when there was a partial collapse of one part of the building’s structure while that firefighter was inside.

“He continues to improve. Unfortunately, he developed his pneumonia,” Chief Heckman said.

This has made the firefighter’s recovery a bit difficult, Chief Heckman said.

“He continues to tell me he doesn’t need anything,” Chief Heckman said.

The firefighter wants to have his identity stay confidential.

Chief Heckman said that the department has supreme gratitude for all its volunteers and for all the other agencies that respond to calls like the one on Pressey Lane.

There were 125 calls for service in 2025 and on December 29, Chief Heckman broke his wrist during a call for service.

“When it rains, it pours,” he said.

Town Administrator Carol Walsh said that she hadn’t had any workman’s compensation complaints for years and then had two in December.

“And it was all the fire department,” Walsh teased.

Chief Heckman said that he has sent his vision for the strategic plan for the fire department to Walsh. He’d like to share it on the town’s website so that people can see it.

Select board member Judith Sproule said she’d be happy to work with Chief Heckman on a five-year budget for that vision.

On January 17, the department will be doing mandated state trainings. At the end of the month, Trenton will be hosting the Hancock County Fire Academy.

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LAND USE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

Brant Viner, the planning board chair, said that some of the changes might need further investigation when it comes to fire standards.

Select Board Chair Fred Ehrlenbach suggested having the town’s Code Enforcement Officer Angela Chamberlain attend the next planning board meeting to help the board address issues. The review was tabled.

At a December 10 meeting, the planning board had looked at the potential land use amendments.

The planning board had approved both potential changes to be sent to the select board for possible approval to move forward to the warrant for town meeting.

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ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

The board approved its new animal control officer and approved an agreement with Hancock County. The cost went down from $27.30 a hour to $26 an hour.

Nicole Rediker began the position on Nov. 15, 2025. To contact Rediker, residents can call her cell: 207-610-9280 or email at hancockaco@hancockcountymaine.gov

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