The Town of New Scotland has hired a retired Bethlehem police officer to the newly created position of Public Works commissioner to address a mounting workload in the DPW office.
The Town Board on Wednesday, Aug. 14, approved hiring Wayne LaChappelle as commissioner of public works, a part-time position totaling 20 hours a week at the rate of $25 per hour. LaChappelle, who serves on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals, will start his new job on Monday, Aug. 26. LaChappelle retired from the Bethlehem Police Department in January of 2003 on disability after contracting Lyme disease while training his canine partner, according to Bethlehem Town Board minutes.
LaChappelle, a 57-year-old Feura Bush resident, was selected from a pool of candidates that was narrowed down to three finalists. The other two candidates had more of a “professional” background while LaChappelle had a more “hands on” background, which appealed to the majority of board members.
“I was humbled,” LaChappelle said. “I was very, very appreciate of being trusted into a position like that and hopefully I will live up to the expectations of the Town Board and the town residents.”
Councilman Daniel Mackay was the only member to vote against LaChappelle’s appointment. Mackay said he preferred one of the two other finalists because he believed that applicant offered a “greater chance for program development” and “launching” a new department.
Town Supervisor Tom Dolin said the position would be “heavier on the water and sewer” hands-on duties. Dolin said he is hopeful the position can be expanded over time.
“I am happy we are doing something to solve this problem,” Dolin said.
He also said some candidates could be hired as consultants to handle parts of the job he does not feel there will be “enough time to handle.”
Councilwoman Patricia Snyder said the town saw a “nice selection” of candidates.
“Each one of them brought some unique qualifications to the position and I think it made it a difficult choice until we resolved in which direction we wanted to go with this position,” Snyder said. “We are moving in the direction of the more hands-on person to hit the ground running here.”
After former Superintendent of Highways Darrell Duncan retired, town officials began reviewing the responsibilities he held. Ken Guyer was hired to Duncan’s position, but Town Board members deemed the amount of responsibilities Duncan had was too much for one person.
The town then moved to create the part-time position to help distribute responsibilities. The board budgeted the position at the start of the year, Deputy Supervisor Douglas LaGrange said.
“We are down to the last five months, so we do have a little latitude … about possibly increasing hours as necessary and getting our feet wet with the position,” LaGrange said.
At the meeting, resident Tim Stanton questioned how the board could hire someone for a new position due to fiscal constraints the town is tackling.
LaGrange said the town has carefully evaluated positions as people retire and in several instances didn’t rehire someone to the position. He added the position could help the town prepare for future residential growth and increasing demands on the town’s water and sewer systems.
“It wasn’t a hastened decision. It was well thought out,” LaGrange said.
Dolin said the board is trying to be cautious with creating new positions to avoid “bloating the government.”
Some residents attending the meeting also questioned how the town could hire LaChappelle if he retired on disability. Residents questioned the legality of him working for the town. He started his own construction company after retiring from Bethlehem.
LaChappelle, who heard about the questioning, said he has “absolutely nothing to hide” and added he had enough time on the police force to retire even without disability.
The type of physical disability he has after contracting Lyme disease left him unable to perform the duties of a police officer, he said. The disability is not such that would limit him with his ability to perform the duties of his new position, he said.
“It was bad. I almost died, frankly,” LaChappelle said. “I go out and about every single day and I work hard. My only restriction is I cannot work in the police or fire system again, but any job in the public and private sector I can hold.”
LaChappelle said he is looking forward to overseeing several developments in the pipeline at the town and is excited to be a part of the town’s growth.
“It more than piques my interest,” he said. “Being on the ground floor is interesting to me.”