PARIS – Sue Mowatt took her case to selectmen Monday after learning her cleaning services would no longer be used at the Paris Police Station.

Mowatt, owner of Mini-Maid Cleaning Services, said she’s been cleaning the police station on a contract basis twice a week since 1997 “at a very low rate.” She said Police Chief David Verrier canceled the contract suddenly and without notice as of June 16.

Mowatt said she learned of the termination of her contract in a terse two-sentence letter from Verrier she received Thursday.

No reason was given in the letter.

“I am disappointed and a bit angry at the bluntness of the letter,” said Mowatt. “I have many clients who (if they have a problem) take the time to talk to me.”

Mowatt, the wife of Paris Sgt. Hartley “Skip” Mowatt, said she was given to understand the Police Department could no longer afford the $1,400 a year cost.

Town Manager Steve McAllister, in a telephone interview Tuesday, said Verrier’s reasons for terminating the contract had nothing to do with affordability. They also were not related to any questions about a possible conflict of interest, given that Sgt. Mowatt is employed by the department.

But McAllister declined to comment on what Verrier’s reasons were.

“All I will say is that her services were terminated and we will have someone else doing that job,” also on a contract basis, McAllister said.

ggeraghty@sunjournal.com

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