Charges aired at SAD 24 session> Meeting focuses on alleged conflicts of interest by directors

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VAN BUREN — Three SAD 24 school directors were accused Wednesday of conflicts of interest, or failure to keep their business dealings separate from their roles as board members.

The conflict complaints were raised during a meeting of the district board of directors by board member Robert Learnard and Gary J. Ouellette, a candidate for board membership in Van Buren’s June elections.

Board Chairman William Smith, a Van Buren attorney, was criticized for representing a former SAD 24 kitchen worker in her appeal for Workers’ Compensation benefits that the district’s insurer initially refused to pay her.

Electrician John Rossignol and plumber Maynard Levesque were criticized for doing business with the school while serving on the board.

All three said they had done nothing wrong.

“I have no problem with my loyalties. I have no apologies to anyone,” Smith said in defense of his decision to help his client, former school employee Barbara Bosse, get the benefits to which he believed she is entitled.

Smith said Bosse “wore her hands and wrists out (while working for the district) and is no longer able to work.” He said the woman developed carpal tunnel problems, but that the district’s Workers’ Compensation carrier has thus far refused to provide her benefits.

“So, yes, I do represent this lady and I’m quite proud of it,” he said.

Smith later added that his handling the case posed no potential for conflict. Workers’ Compensation matters go before the Workers’ Compensation Board — not the SAD 24 board of directors.

“So there’s no possibility that a vote would come up (at a school board meeting). But if it did, that would be the time for me to excuse myself (from voting),” he said.

Smith was skeptical about Learnard’s claim that other attorneys Learnard consulted considered his representing Bosse in her claim against the school’s insurer a conflict issue.

“They would have me withdraw and leave this (former) employee unprotected and I’m not going to do it,” Smith said. He alleged that Learnard was merely trying to “make political hay” out of the situation.

Learnard accused his fellow directors of applying “double standards” when it came to dealing with potential conflicts. He said when his wife applied for a SAD 24 job, he was told he’d have to resign if she were hired.

Learnard also was irked that Superintendent Clayton Belanger had discussed the conflict matter privately with Smith and John Pluto, a SAD 24 director representing Hamlin and an Aroostook County assistant district attorney.

“Why didn’t you bring it to the full board, Clayton?” Learnard asked. “It just looks awful funny to me. … That in itself was a conflict.”

Belanger said that when he learned the accusations would be made this week, he consulted SAD 24’s legal counsel, who advised him “not to be involved” and to contact the board chairman. “And I only have one chairman of the board.”

Visibly irritated, Smith asked Learnard: “What’s your point?”

“The point is you’re conflict, sir, up to your ears,” Learnard said.

Smith speculated that Learnard was upset because his attempt to mount “a secret ambush” failed. Why shouldn’t he be made aware of an accusation against him, he asked.

Learnard demanded that Smith “step down or move aside” until the board got legal advice on the matter, but Smith refused, saying that he was elected by the voters of Van Buren and could not be removed by a vote of the board.

Learnard’s motion to remove Smith from his chairmanship — seconded by Nancy Dumond — failed.

The complaints against Levesque and Rossignol were raised by Ouellette, who said that while he collected signatures for his nomination petition for the June elections, he was asked why John Rossignol and Maynard Levesque could collect money from the school district while they were on the (school) board.

Belanger took that issue up with the school’s legal counsel as well, and was told that in emergency matters, “You can call whoever you want.” He added, however, that the “rule of thumb” was to try to rotate such jobs among all service providers in the community.

Business manager Robert Corbin said that system made an effort to hire others, but that, “Sometimes you can’t reach them.”

If other providers in town were upset they didn’t get the work — as Learnard and Ouellette alleged — they weren’t at the meeting to say so.

“I’ve been in business for 17 years, and I’ve done work for the school district from Day 1,” Levesque said. He said he has worked only in emergencies or after winning work through competitive bidding.

Levesque criticized Learnard for not bothering to get both sides of the story.

The matter remained unresolved Wednesday. The board decided to seek a written legal opinion before arriving at any conclusions.