Sherman and the Board of Selectmen are being sued by the town's former fire marshal. 

Sarah Beth Addison Larson claims in the suit that the decision was unjust and retaliatory for Department of Labor wage and OSHA violation filings.  The Board voted to dismiss Larson in January, citing instances of belligerence and willful insubordination. 

First Selectman Don Lowe told the Newstimes that Larson sabotaged her job with poor performance. 

She served 17 months as deputy fire marshal, 1 month as interim fire marshal and was officially promoted in October 2016.  Brookfield’s assistant fire marshal has been serving as Sherman’s interim fire marshal since Larson’s dismissal. 

Larson accused the Board of refusing to obtain protective gear for her, but the First Selectman says a request was never made through his office. 

When the state Department of Labor required a reclassification of the position from stipend paid to non-exempt paid with designated hours and an established hourly wage, Larson reportedly refused to sign the contract.  Lowe says Larson continuing on would have put the town out of compliance.