Selectmen on board with off-the-clock work at car barn

An unidentified mechanic, right (image obscured by the Lebanon Voice), works on a car belonging to a relative of Public Works director Pat Smith as Smith looks out a Highway Garage window. (Facebook photo)

COPYRIGHT© MILTON - Milton's newest selectman said on Wednesday he had no problem with the town's Public Works chief allowing town mechanics to work on personal and family cars at the town garage while off the clock.

The town recently conducted an informal probe into the practice and concluded it had been a long-held tradition to allow such as long as the work was done once the employee was off the clock and with the supervisor's permission.

"As far as I'm concerned the issue has been taken care of," Selectman Ryan Thibeault said on Wednesday.

The Lebanon Voice reported earlier this week that it had learned an informal investigation had been carried out and it was determined no wrong had been committed and that the practice had been in place since the early 2000s.

The issue first came to light among residents after a family member of Public Works chief Pat Smith posted on Facebook regarding the repair of their car. In the post is a picture of Pat Smith looking out a town garage window while a town employee can be seen working on the car.

Town Administrator Heather Thibodeau said earlier this month that she, personally, had spoken to at least one town officials who said they used to fix selectmen's cars there as well.

However, a lengthy email string begun by former selectman Bob Bridges reveals that not all were aware of the practice, or condone it.

In a March 28 email from Bridges frowning on the practice, he writes, "Hi Mike (Beaulieu) & Andy, I was just sent this photo, is this another benefit of PW employees or just the director of PW."

Rawson replies a half hour later, "I talked to Pat (Smith) this has been done in the past it was after hours and this is where all (employee's) tools are this is the first time in 3 years this has been brought up to me. I do know that in other municipalities this is allowed because this is where the mechanics' tools are kept."

One of the issues that most concerned citizens was the question of liability, including whether the town could be held liable in the event of property damage to the town garage or vehicle being worked on or from injury while the off-the-clock work was being done.

Both Thibeault and Rawson said the practice had been looked into and they had been assured by the town's insurance carrier, Primex, that they had no problem with it.

Rawson told The Lebanon Voice on Wednesday that the practice was sort of a quid pro quo for mechanics, who use their own tools working at the garage and are given no stipend for doing so.

"The same thing is done in Portsmouth, too," said Rawson, who also said any liability with the practice was covered by Smith's homeowner's insurance policy.

Beaulieu today confirmed that he was aware of the practice, but refused further comment.

The Lebanon Voice also reached out to Primex for an explanation of how their policy would cover such liability, but did not receive an explanation, however, Mike Ricker, its general counsel, did send an email that noted, "I would be constrained by ethical and confidentiality considerations from commenting to any third party about the insured member's liability risks."

The Facebook photo that began the fireworks was taken down shortly after it was posted.