The Maine Public Utilities Commission has voted to terminate the investigation into the West Paris Water District.
It also recommended that the state Attorney General’s Office not investigate the acts and practices of the current and former board of trustees.
PUC Chairman Mark Vannoy and Commissioner R. Williamson voted Aug. 16 to terminate the investigation; Randall D. Davis was absent.
It was initiated in December 2017 by a complaint to the Attorney’s General Office, which referred it to the commission’s Consumer Assistance and Safety Division.
Trustees were questioned about aging meters, irregular billing of its 232 customers, replacing a 1950s transit pipe on Pioneer Street, internal handling of correspondence and trustees working and being paid as employees.
Many of the nine allegations were specific to former trustees, but no specific findings or recommendations were made against them.
The investigation centered on the practices of the current trustees, Chairman Ralph Brown, Mark Herrick and Clay Abbott.
Vannoy said based on information the commission has received, the new board of trustees has made “significant changes” to its practices to ensure they comply with state law.
“I’m also pleased with the efforts of the new board of trustees,” Williamson said.
ldixon@sunmediagroup.net
Send questions/comments to the editors.
