Selectmen defend decision to hire ex-selectman's grandson as treasurer

Lebanon Town Offices on Upper Guinea Road. (Courtesy image)

LEBANON - Lebanon selectmen earlier this week steadfastly defended their June 6 decision to hire the grandson of former selectman and current transfer station manager Ronal Patch as the town's treasurer.

Jordan Miles listed employment history on his resume from the town's highway department where he worked on the road crew under the management of Road Commissioner Tom Torno, as well as sales jobs at Bootleggers and Staples. He won out over eight other applicants for the job.

Of the nine who applied three including Miles were called in for interviews, but one didn't show, selectmen said.

When questioned by Lebanon Voice editor Harrison Thorp on whether residents might perceive aspects of cronyism or nepotism in the hiring of Miles, Selectmen Chair Christine Torno chafed.

Ronal Patch

"I cannot worry about that," Torno said. "We've had long conversations about that, and he's a good candidate."

"Are you saying there's any kind of collaboration going on?" Selectman Royce Heath then demanded of Thorp.

"I'm saying there's definitely the perception, absolutely," Thorp replied.

"That's all in the vision of the beholder," Heath said.

"I think what people perceive is what they perceive, but we made the right decision," Torno added.

Code Enforcement Officer Mike Beaulieu, who was also at the meeting then asked if there was anything in the employee handbook regarding nepotism?

In point of fact, the ethics police put in place earlier this year spends a great deal of time on possible conflicts including but not limited to aspects of both cronyism and nepotism.

Selectman Paul Nadeau, meanwhile, also expressed his confidence in Miles, saying "in six months you'll be glad we chose him."

Nadeau and Heath are both former employees of transfer station manager Patch, the grandfather of Miles, who has never worked as a bookkeeper or treasurer.

Tom Torno, who oversaw Miles during his stint with the road crew, is a nephew of the selectmen chair.