By Terry Karkos,Staff Writer

DIXFIELD – A conflict surfaced at Monday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting when a few residents put Town Manager Nanci Allard on the hot seat.

During a public comment session, resident Sonya Fuller asked Allard if she had, without permission from selectmen, hired a part-time worker for the town’s Water Department.

“That’s a personnel issue, so we can’t talk about it,” Allard replied. “I cannot discuss it in public.”

Then, she added, when some selectmen looked at her quizzically, “Nobody’s added a position that is permanent.”

Selectmen told Fuller they were unaware that someone had been hired.

Later, Allard, in her report to the board, discussed a personnel issue involving a police officer whom Chief Richard A. Pickett had sent away for two weeks for supervisory training.

Allard said that she was rebuffed by Pickett after telling him to cancel the training.

Selectman Tony Carter than motioned, after discussion, to postpone any further training of officers until the board could meet with the chief and discuss the matter. The motion was approved, 3-1.

Selectman Montell Kennedy, the lone dissenter, and resident Norine Clarke then explained that the town would not have any police officers if they were forbidden from seeking training needed to remain certified as law enforcement officers.

Carter admitted that he had overreacted to Allard’s comments and rescinded his motion. It was approved, 4-0.

Fuller and Clarke then grilled Allard, wanting to know why she could talk about the police officer but not acknowledge if she had hired someone for a part-time job without going through a bidding process, advertising the position, or making selectmen aware of it.

Kennedy then asked Allard to explain why she hired someone without their knowledge. Allard refused to answer his question.

“It’s a confidential matter. I can’t respond,” she said, much to Kennedy’s disbelief.

Allard is stepping down as town manager, effective June 2, for reasons she has declined to divulge.