By BENJI ROSEN
The short-staffed Hancock Police Department has hired a part-time officer who is also on staff in Rindge.
The hire of Thomas Horne was approved by the Select Board in a nonpublic session Monday. Horne has been a Rindge police officer for four years, according to Rindge’s website.
Horne will come on to make up for part-time officer John Minichiello reducing his hours.
The board recently authorized another part-time police officer to come on full-time this summer. The board allowed Chief Andrew Wood to extend an offer to Shane “Joey” Sweeney on the condition Sweeney enrolls in the Police Academy this summer and then completes the 16-week live-in program. Sweeney will remain a part-time officer until then.
The department has been short-staffed since full-time police officer Melissa Hetrick resigned after she was placed on administrative leave. She reached a settlement agreement with the town. Wood and Town Administrator Diane Kendall were unable to discuss Hetrick’s resignation, calling it a personnel matter.
In addition to the nonpublic session about Horne, the Select Board met privately Monday with Kurtis Grassett, the director of public works. Diane Kendall, the town administrator, said the board and Grassett spoke about a personnel matter that related to succession planning.
The board has expressed its intentions to start succession plans to prepare for any key employee’s departure. Grassett first spoke to the board about the subject March 14.
Benji Rosen can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 228, or brosen@ledgertranscript.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenjiRosenMLT