Groton - Two members of the Poquonnock Bridge Fire District board of directors - secretary Nancy Beckwith and member Peter Legnos - have resigned.

Beckwith and Legnos were serving two-year terms that expire July 1, 2015. Neither could be immediately reached for comment.

Legnos is president of LBI, a company that makes marine and defense-related products. Beckwith works for Electric Boat.

The board also just learned it's losing its longtime department chief, Todd Paige.

Paige, who has served as chief since 2001 and been with the department 28 years, told the board about two weeks ago he would retire on Dec. 11. The department has no deputy chief, so Paige recommended appointing one of the remaining four captains until a successor is chosen.

Board President Alan Ackley said this week the district would likely go outside the department to search for a chief.

The board also needs a new lawyer. Board members will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday to interview attorney Michael E. Satti in his law office at 185 S. Broad St. in Pawcatuck. Ackley said Satti is well versed in labor issues.

The Poquonnock Bridge Fire District has been in deep financial trouble for at least two years. It closed one of its two fire stations, sent firefighters to medical calls on a pickup truck instead of an engine to save on fuel and laid off nine firefighters. The board also has been in a lengthy legal fight with the union over contracts and labor practices.

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim