The Board of Selectmen last week voted to offer settlements to two former employees that will avoid any further legal actions between the individuals and the Town of North Haven. The settlements involve Bob Burns, an employee whose position was eliminated by the previous town administration, and Dave Maiden, a building official whose work had been investigated for evidence of wrongdoing.

The two will be given the opportunity to "purchase bridges to their pensions," explained First Selectman Michael Freda. He noted that both were only one month away from qualifying for pensions. Plans regarding when Burns and Maiden will begin receiving their pensions are being finalized, added Freda.

Burns's town engineering position was dropped from the budget last year. At the time, then-first selectman Janet McCarty said the position was unnecessary because Burns wasn't an engineer and two certified engineers were already employees of the Public Works Department. When Burns left his post in June 2009, he had worked for the department for nine years.

This past spring, Maiden was placed on paid leave as the Building Department began a criminal and internal investigation. The state's attorney's office has already determined there was no criminal wrongdoing as a result of its own investigation.

Freda said that the settlements are "the best solution for the town. These two cases could have potentially cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars." Freda added that Burns's case would have involved a lawsuit against McCarty that "could have dragged on for two years. My goal is to move North Haven forward and get the problems of the past behind us."

Attorney Chip Walsh of Licari, Walsh & Sklaver, LLC, who represents Burns, said his client "is pleased with the resolution" that will enable him to receive a pension.

"At this time, this is an ideal resolution," said Walsh. "A year and a half ago, we wanted a town meeting for a vote on the position to be reinstated. But it didn't happen."

As part of the settlement agreement, all litigation and grievances against North Haven will be withdrawn, said Walsh.

Freda said the forensic audit conducted on the Building Department is currently in draft form and was expected to be released in hard copy this week. He hopes the audit will lead to positive changes.

"There were not good systems in place and the town has to take responsibility for correcting and improving that," said Freda. "I am committed to ensuring we have robust systems in place as recommended by the forensic audit to ensure it never happens again."