DERRY — Two town councilors have complained to the town administrator that they have been threatened by an angry firefighter.
Kevin Coyle and Brent Carney said that when leaving the Municipal Center after the March 4 Town Council meeting they were told by a firefighter, "Good luck calling 911."
A group of about 20 firefighters, including Union President Garry Williams, was outside the building holding union placards to protest the lack of a contract for their workers. They have been working without a contract since July 1.
Coyle said he wrote to Stenhouse on Wednesday morning asking him to investigate.
Stenhouse could not be reached comment for this story.
Coyle said he also felt threatened again the morning of March 5 when a firefighter who threatened him drove slowly past his North Shore Road home in a firetruck, staring at him.
Both councilors say they respect the firefighter's right to protest the council's decision but draw the line once they feel their families have been threatened.
"They can't intimidate people in their official capacity," Coyle said.
To read the comments, released Friday to the Derry News by the two councilors, click here.
Williams, who was protesting outside the building at the time Coyle left, said he did not hear any firefighter make those comments and would not admit that it was said. However, he did say that it would be inappropriate for a firefighter to make those remarks and threaten Coyle.
Coyle and Carney are two of four councilors who voted against a proposed contract for the town's firefighters last month. Councilors Janet Fairbanks and Beverly Ferrante also voted against the contract.
Last week, Williams said that certain councilors who voted against a proposed contract last month have been breaking the negotiation rules by speaking publicly in defense of their vote.
As a result, Williams said, the union is filing paperwork with the state Labor Board claiming that the town did not negotiate the contract "in good faith."
Coyle said last week that Derry's firefighters have one of the most powerful unions in town and that they received an unfair amount of vacation time, pay too little for their health insurance and receive too much money if they choose not to accept the town's insurance.
According to the proposed contract that was rejected by the council, firefighters in Derry who chose not to use the town's health insurance would have received $10,720.68 a year for the family plan or $7,941.24 a year for a two-person plan to be used toward obtaining their own insurance.
According to the firefighters' current contract with the town, Derry firefighters with more than 12 years service earn 312 hours of vacation per year. At 25 years, firefighters receive 504 hours of vacation per year.
