VIDEO: Board of Selectmen Approve New Officer Hires

The police department added two new additions to the ranks after a handful of officers left for neighboring organizations. 

During Wednesday's Board of Selectmen meeting, Chief Ronald Charron asked members to approve the hiring of two probational officers; Matthew Gardner and Dave Mahoney.

According to the chief, the competition to land positions is fierce. During the interview process, the officers were asked to write a paragraph explaining their daily morning routine; writing proficiency is an important skill necessary to write police reports.  The department also looked at their Facebook accounts to make sure their public persona is respectable.

"We want to see the content, see if there’s anything inappropriate on the pages. Some officers did, some didn’t. It was mostly appropriate," said Chief Charron.

But before the chief signed off on his newest employees, he asked them a question that stops many in their verbal tracks.

"We asked them, 'What is the worst thing you have done and not been caught at?'" he reported. "A lot of us in this room wouldn't want to answer."

Gardner is currently employed by the Rehoboth Police Department. Selectmen Michael Brady is a colleague. He had good things to say about Gardner.

"He's a very level-headed officer, he has two kids," he said.

Mahoney is currently a police officer on the island of Nantucket with connections to Swansea.

Board members decided to enact a hiring freeze to pause municipal employees hiring until after state budget figures are released. 

Board of Selectmen also considered creating revolving fund for Board of Health (BOH)  employees to inspect restaurants and businesses who need service on weeknights and weekends. 

Burger King was shut down months ago and needed to be re-opened on the weekend, bringing light to a BOH inspection protocol conundrum. 

"We just want to be pro-business," said one member.

Selectmen asked if other communities inspected establishments during non-business hours when there wasn't an emergency.

"So we would be on the cutting edge," Brady said.

According to sanitarian Beth Hallal, the board decided to put the weekend inspections on a fee schedule.

Toward the conclusion of the meeting, Francis Cavaco asked for an update on Town Hall repairs. A company is currently renovating the exterior after . He proposed holding off on paying the company until he receives an update on the construction process.

Vice President David Parker said he would not sign off on delaying payments because it would financially hurt a small, local business.