An Auburn school bus driver is back at work after officials looked into an allegation that he refused to allow a Somali middle school student on the bus.

Citing confidential personnel issues, school administrators refused to comment on the results of the investigation. Business Manager Jude Cyr said only that the driver has not been fired and “appropriate action has been taken.”

Abdiaziz Ali, father of the 13-year-old boy, has said the driver would not allow his son to go home on the school bus one day last month because the boy is Somali.

Neil Shankman, attorney for the Ali family, said “The school system acknowledges it screwed up, an employee acted improperly.”

Auburn:

Lawsuit filed over education policy

A local Mexican man is suing Tambrands Inc., claiming a company policy requiring employees to have a high school diploma or GED certificate discriminates against Hispanics.

Jose Rodriguez of Lewiston began working on the production line at Tambrands in 1990. He got the temporary job at the Auburn plant through an employment agency.

During his first two years on the job, he claims in his lawsuit, his salary was increased from $7 to $8 an hour and he never received any verbal or written criticisms on his job performance.

Lewiston:

Commission backs harassment claim

A woman who claims she was sexually harassed while working at a local restaurant as a waitress and bartender has found a key supporter in her case against the restaurant’s owner.

An investigator for the Maine Human Rights Commission has found reasonable grounds to believe that Stephanie Dustin was subjected to severe and persistent sexual harassment by Kenneth Daigle, the owner of Little Joe’s Restaurant.

“The frequency of Mr. Daigle’s propositions, the physical assaults upon private parts of her body, would have caused a reasonable woman under similar circumstances to feel compelled to leave employment,” wrote Paul Pierce, the chief investigator for the rights commission, in a report released Tuesday.

Daigle denied all of Dustin’s allegations and he accused her of trying to make quick money at his expense.

“I did absolutely nothing wrong,” Daigle said when reached at his restaurant. “I’m actually the victim here.”

Livermore Falls: Selectmen rescind trailer permit

LIVERMORE FALLS – After an hour in executive session with attorney Paul Mills, selectmen voted to rescind their Oct. 6 vote regarding the Judd property on Route 17.

That action revoked a permit for the Judds that would have allowed them to replace a trailer that had burned.

The board gave no reason for the reversal of the previous action, only that they were acting on the advice of attorney.

Wilton:

Town to consider sex offender policy

WILTON – Selectmen have asked Town Manager Peter Nielsen to work with Police Chief James Parker on developing a policy regarding sex offender posting.

The decision came during Tuesday night’s board meeting when citizens presented a petition signed by 680 residents asking the Wilton Police Department to be more stringent about such postings.

Wilton’s police force currently notifies people they think will be affected by a predator.

But Kaaren Wadsworth, as a member of a family affected by sexual assault, wants them to do more.

“What are they doing that’s so good they deserve a second chance,” she asked. “Victims don’t get second chances.”

Parker cited a registered sex offender who was convicted more than a decade ago and has moved into the area and changed his life. “I don’t think I ought to throw it out in the public and drag it out,” Parker said of that offender. “If he does make a mistake, he’ll pay for it.”

Woodstock:

Fire station

being converted

Recreation Committee Chairman John Fitzmorris told selectmen Tuesday that his group has $15,346.90 to spend on a renovation project to convert the old fire station into a recreation and community activity center.

Fitzmorris said the money has come through gifts from residents. The town shoulders no responsibility for the costs of the project.

Fitzmorris said volunteers are already at work, with the windows in and some other minor details completed.

The group wants to get the septic system ready to go before freeze up so work remaining after that will consist of inside work that can be done despite the weather conditions.

When finished the building will conform with the American Disabilities Act, and offer play areas, a community meeting room, a kitchen, bathroom facilities, and will be open for use by youth and other community groups.

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