PARIS – Selectmen will hold an executive session Monday to consider a request by Hartley “Skip” Mowatt to return to police work on a part-time basis.

Mowatt was a full-time sergeant with about 10 years of service when he was called up to active duty with the U.S. Army Reserves on Aug. 13, 2003. He initially served in Bangor and was later transferred to Camp Keyes in Augusta.

Although his activation was tied to the mobilization of forces that preceded the war in Iraq, Mowatt stayed stateside.

He requested to be hired as a part-time policeman at the end of June. Selectmen agreed to hear him at Monday’s executive session.

Town Manager Steve McAllister said that under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Mowatt is officially not an employee now.

“He’s on a military leave of absence,” he said.

McAllister said the law allows Mowatt to request his old job back within 90 days of leaving active-duty status with the reserves.

He declined further comment, citing confidentiality of personnel matters.

Mowatt could not be reached for comment.

Col. David Turner of the Maine Army National Guard said employers are required to hold open a reservist’s job, but the reservist must return to the same position that they left.

If Mowatt only wants to work part time, and was a full-time policeman before being called up, that may present a problem, Turner said.

“They don’t have to create a job for him,” he said. “He may need to determine whether he’s going to be a cop or a soldier.”

McAllister said the town still needs to contribute toward Mowatt’s retirement benefits, and plans to do that. The seven-member Police Department is preparing to fill one full-time vacancy by the end of August, McAllister said.

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