By Kathryn Skelton,Staff Writer

AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci has tapped a familiar face to lead the reshaped Workers’ Compensation Board: former Lewiston Mayor Paul Dionne.

Dionne has been executive director of the board since 1996. When Baldacci’s emergency legislation passed the House and Senate last April, it cut the board from eight to six members, made the executive director chairman of the board and called for all new appointments. Everyone has stayed in their positions in acting capacities, pending the appointments.

Since 2001, the board has had stalemates over its employees, the budget, and benefits to injured workers.

Baldacci officially nominated Dionne for his expanded post two weeks ago. The Labor Committee scheduled a public hearing for 1 p.m. Wednesday. An affirmative vote there would send it to the Senate.

Gridlock hasn’t dogged the new board like it did the old, said Dionne, who estimated he’s broken a half-dozen ties in his new role as chairman.

“The mind-set is a whole lot different. Both sides come to the table to negotiate and find common ground,” he said. There’s no more “using tie votes as strategy.”

Since April the board has agreed on a budget, hired several hearing officers and launched a pilot study to see how often insurance carriers reject injured workers’ claims.

Later this spring, the board will receive an outside opinion on whether to extend benefits – and give more money – to injured workers, a flash point for both sides in years past.

“The new statute could well be put to the test. I think it’s a test we’re going to pass,” Dionne said.

In nominating Dionne, Baldacci credited his “sense of fairness and his Lewiston roots that help bring forth such genuine leadership.”

Also up for confirmation are six board members, five of whom currently serve.

Glenn Burroughs, also of Lewiston, has been nominated as the newest member to the labor side.