By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

A 17-year veteran of the Epsom Fire Department, Capt. Floyd Graham, was released from town employment recently following findings that he treated a minor with a saline IV using town equipment and while off-duty, according to town officials.

During a Monday, Aug. 29, public deliberation, selectmen agreed Graham's action created undue liability to the town, marked a failure to properly report the use of town equipment and failed to set a good example for the department, a qualification of superior officers, said Tony Soltani, counsel to the board.

Soltani said Graham has five days to appeal the decision. If Graham appeals, Soltani said, he will likely face a second hearing covering separate charges including misuse of town property, failure to report to work on time and tampering with time cards.

Graham requested that the selectmen's deliberations be public. He could not be reached for comment by press time.

Epsom selectmen placed Graham on unpaid leave earlier this year, though the reasons weren't disclosed to the public until recently.

On Monday, Aug. 22, the board held a preliminary deliberative hearing, in which there was enough evidence against Graham to consider disciplinary action, said Soltani.

Joni Kitson, former chairman of the board, recused herself from the investigation. However, a dispute over records related to the investigation ultimately led the board to revoke Kitson 's status as chairman, replacing her with current chairman Mary Frambach. Kitson has not participated in the deliberative hearings.