ORONO — The Town Council has unofficially tabled plans for an outside personnel study, a review that was called for by Chairman Francis Martin last month after debate in the town increased following a fatal fire late last year.

Martin called for the study during a March 6 press conference after the issue once again came to head during the three months after the December 1989 fire at the Grove Street home of Jennifer Nickels, in which three of her children were killed. The proposal called for a complete study of personnel needs in the town, and a possible separate review of personnel needs in the Fire Department.

On Monday, however, councilors at least temporarily backed away at the idea of spending somewhat scarce budget funds on such a study, which could cost $10,000, and took the initial steps toward solving the matter internally.

“I see a need for every department for funding and personnel,” Councilor James O. Ballinger said in lobbying for a review that would cover all departments within the town. And Town Manager Bruce Locke said, “I’d like to see an analysis of the town done.”

Councilor Lawrence Pixley, who acknowledged that he campaigned on a call for a review of the Fire Department needs, suggested that town officials drop plans for the study and attempt to resolve the matter using the expertise of Fire Chief Duane Brasslett, a move that received the consensus of some other councilors. Still, some councilors reportedly have reservations of having the Chief issue an objective report of the department. No action was taken.

In echoing Pixley’s suggestion, Councilor Scott Thomas said that Brasslett and University of Maine Fire Department Chief David Fielder produce a joint study of possible solutions that would not include the option of hiring additional personnel. Martin said Tuesday that Locke likely will decide next month whether to call for an independent study.

Currently, the town and the university volunteer fire departments share a mutual-response pact, which also has been a target of study since the Grove Street fire when there was a delay in the UM response to the scene. Some say that the UM department was never called, while others say back-up is based on automatic response.