BANGOR — A former highway worker’s lawsuit against the town of Limestone will be tried in federal court.

Paul Durepo, Limestone’s volunteer fire chief, sued the town in Aroostook County Superior Court last month. Durepo claims that some town officials used the budgetary process to eliminate his job.

Durepo’s position with the highway department was one of five eliminated three years ago when the town reduced the size of its work force. The effort was to prepare for the closing of Loring Air Force Base.

In court documents sparse of detail, Durepo claims he lost his job as retaliation for an unspecified incident from years ago.

Durepo claims that the loss of his job caused him mental anguish, anxiety, and emotional distress, among other things.

Because Durepo raises constitutional claims, the lawsuit was sent to U.S. District Court in Bangor last week.

His attorney, Allan Hanson of Caribou, could not be reached for comment Friday.