ETNA — Etna firefighters plan to take to the people their disagreement with the selectmen about the appointment of a new chief.

Former Etna firefighter Roger Sanders said Tuesday that the firefighters will attend the 7 p.m. selectmen’s meeting on Thursday, Feb. 17, to request that the board call for a townwide referendum to determine a method for the selection of chief.

The firefighters, he said, are willing to do whatever the people decide concerning the manner in which the chief is selected, but they hope residents prefer to have firefighters elect their own chief.

Sanders disagreed Tuesday afternoon with comments made Monday by newly appointed Fire Chief Patrick Willard.

The selectmen recently appointed Willard fire chief, prompting the resignation of several firefighters after department members voted 8-2 to reappoint Leroy Hall fire chief.

Willard said Monday that the department still had five members, but on Tuesday Sanders claimed otherwise. Those who voted Saturday to resign, Sanders said, included Gary MacCrea, Bruce Edwards, Joe Doucet, Jeff Hodge, Lewis Small, Randy Hopkins and John Hall. Former Chief Leroy Hall, he said, was undecided. Sanders maintained that the only members of the department remaining were Chief Willard and his wife, Debbie, and Richard Hamlin.