Town garage probe reveals mechanics working on family cars is nothing new

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 2017©MILTON - In what many in Milton might see as another lapse of ethics concerning town officials, The Lebanon Voice has learned it is common practice for employees at the Department of Public Works to routinely work on relatives' cars at the department's garage.

According to sources close to an informal investigation that the town carried out, it was determined no wrong had been committed, however, and that the practice had been in place since the early 2000s.

Town Administrator Heather Thibodeau said late last week that she, personally, had spoken to at least two town officials she would not identify who confirmed the practice, even one saying that they used to fix selectmen's cars there as well.

The issue first became apparent when a family member of department head Pat Smith posted on Facebook regarding the repair of their car. In the post is a picture of Pat Smith looking out a garage window while a town employee can be seen working on the car.

Bob Bridges

A lengthy email string begun by former selectman Bob Bridges that circulated among current selectmen, town officials and citizens was also obtained by The Lebanon Voice and shows initial pushback against criticism of the policy by Selectman Andy Rawson.

In a March 28 email from Bridges frowning on the practice, he writes, "Hi Mike & 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."

Then on March 29 Bridges replies, "Thank you for your reply, however, It seems that you totally missed the point of the concerns people had. I nor do others care about how long this has been happening nor do we care about other towns. This is a town owned building and therefore the liability is placed on the town of Milton if something was to happen. Like fire, injuries, damage to property etc. You stated that in the three years you have never got a complaint, well I wasn't complaining, I was passing on information that was sent to me about a concern of non-employees getting their vehicles worked on at a town owned building."

Thibodeau also said last week that the practice has been that employees can fix their cars on their own time as long as they aren't on the clock and with the supervisor's permission.

As far as liability concerns several town officials seemed to think that an individual's homeowners' policy would cover any liability issues.

Primex did not return a phone call from The Lebanon Voice, but Mike Ricker its general counsel, did sent an email refusing any comment that read in part, "I would be constrained by ethical and confidentiality considerations from commenting to any third party about the insured member's liability risks."

Meanwhile, Bridges, as a former selectman, said he knew nothing about this practice.

"I find it concerning that it's been going on," he said. "It's a town owned building and wasn't built for a private garage."

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

Selectmen Rawson, Mike Beaulieu and Ryan Thibeault as well as Smith were not immediately available for comment.

Town selectmen have come under fire in recent months on several ethical fronts, including allegedly changing town policy to benefit them personally, avoiding openness of email and text messaging communication by refusing town phones and holding illegal meetings that were neither posted nor recorded with proper minutes.