The trustees recently suspended the district's supervisor, Ross Varney, for two weeks, following an audit the district ordered. Problems at the district first came to light last April when it became public that the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office was investigating the district. Varney was due to return to work Wednesday, September 1.

Four of the five trustees, with Robert Haeberle absent, unanimously agreed that district employees may not make personal charges to the district's vender accounts; and employees may not use district equipment and materials for personal use or outside work. The sheriff's office is investigating both of these practices.

Trustee Brad Foster referred to the adoption of the rules as "the start of an employee handbook."

The trustees also agreed that all employees, which include Varney and two part time employees, Stacey Knight and Chris Cossette, should submit weekly time sheets which list the number of hours worked each day, and whether they were regular, overtime or vacation hours. Varney has traditionally submitted a weekly total of hours, which often includes overtime hours, but does not specify how many hours were worked each day.

Foster also suggested that each employee should have set work hours, including the superintendent, except when he is called out for an emergency.

With the recent hiring of Cosette, Foster said, "We shouldn't need a lot of overtime hours." Cossette began work August 2. Use of the time sheets will begin Friday, September 3, which is the start of the district's work week.

Referring to Cossette and Varney, Chairman David Sawyer suggested "We should give these two some time to work together."

Referring to Varney's overtime, Sawyer said, "For nine years, he's been right out straight."

Trustee Phil DiVece disagreed, saying "He doesn't work 40 hours all the time. Sometimes he's busy and sometimes there's not enough work."

Trustees briefly discussed having employees punch a time clock, but decided against it. DiVece said he thinks a time clock "is to your benefit, if you're an employee, although I never thought it was."

The trustees also agreed to reduce the 50 cents per mile reimbursement Varney was getting for using his own vehicle to 37 cents a mile, which is apparently what most town employees receive. Sawyer disagreed with lowering the rate, saying, "I wouldn't take my truck out for 37 cents a mile."

Foster asked why the superintendent would have to use his own vehicle rather than the district's. Sawyer said the truck might be tied up at times.

The trustees also discussed whether the superintendent should get gas at the so-called "town pump" located at the school system's bus garage, or use a credit card.

"I don't want him up there filling up the district truck," DiVece said.

"Why waste 40 or 50 cents a gallon?" Foster asked, referring to the fact that the town is only paying 98 cents a gallon.

Foster suggested that mileage sheets should also be submitted weekly, with reimbursement checks issued monthly.

Trustee Mark Johnson asked if bids are requested for sanding and plowing. Sawyer said he didn't know.

"I don't have a problem putting the sanding and plowing out to bid," DiVece said.

Johnson also asked if contractors are asked to provide insurance coverage.

"That's what we pay the superintendent to do," Sawyer said.

Foster also suggested "some kind of bidding process" be established for work the district contracts for.

Sawyer said it has been Varney's practice "to get on the phone every year and get three locals to bid. He gets their cost of labor and equipment per hour," Sawyer said.

In addition to Kent Reed of Wiscasset, Sawyer said the district has used the services of Jack Shaw of Woolwich and Harry Crooker & Sons of Topsham.

Contacted Tuesday, Shaw confirmed that he does occasionally do work for the water district.

"When they need some bigger excavation work they call me," Shaw said. He said his company has also done some road repair and patching for the district.

Referring to the investigation of the superintendent, Shaw said, "It's so sad to see this. In all my dealings with Ross, he's the utmost professional. They're damn lucky to have a man like that."

The trustees agreed to discuss the bidding process further at the next meeting, which will be Monday, September 20 at 7 p.m. at the water district.