Patch, former board lowered benefits threshold

Ronal Patch (Lebanon Voice file photo)

LEBANON - Selectmen in 2010 arbitrarily lowered the threshold for part-time town workers to receive health care and other benefits from the town from 32 hours to 25 hours, according to Selectmen Chairman Ben Thompson, who began researching just who got such benefits in the wake of the death of former road commissioner Larry Torno, who died last month from an untreatable form of cancer.

The board of selectmen that OK'd lowering the threshold was composed of Robert Frizzell, Jason Cole and town transfer station manager Ronal Patch, who currently works 29 hours a week.

Thompson said there were no minutes that indicated selectmen had discussed and voted on the matter, just a personnel policy file that indicated the change and was signed by all three.

Town employees who qualify for the health care benefits get 70 percent of their health care premium paid by taxpayers. A family benefit plan can go for as much as $1,800 a month, which means the town would pay about $1,300.

Patch, who oversees a handful of employees, including his wife, a brother and a grandson, gets $16 an hours as manager. The other workers get $13.28

Thompson said there were certain retirement benefits offered to those who work a minimum of 25 hours a week, but did not specify exactly what they were on Thursday.

He said the whole matter of at what threshold part-time town workers receive such benefits as well as whether or not elected officials such as the road commissioner - or even selectmen - should be entitled to health care and retirement benefits could come down to a referendum vote in June.

"If the town wants to provide these benefits to elected officials, which is not normally done but can be by town approval, it should be provided to all elected officials receiving wages," he said, adding he personally did not think it should be offered to selectmen.

Patch was not immediately available for comment.

Meanwhile, in other town news

The Board of Selectmen will act as Road Commissioner until June 2016, with Tom Torno, Larry Torno's son, named supervisor by selectmen. Thompson said the wait until 2016 when Larry Torno's term would have ended is mandated by law per the Maine Municipal Association.

Former Town Clerk and Tax Collector Laura Bragg's position will be filled temporarily by remaining Town Offices personnel, while selectmen begin a search for a permanent replacement. Bragg's last day was Tuesday after giving her notice last month.