Selectmen rescind credit cards - Ex-chief allegedly used town's plastic for porn


Webster's selectmen decided Monday to take back eight town-issued credit cards, which the town had given to its departments. Their decision came in the wake of criminal charges against former fire chief Shawn Mitchell in connection with misusing town funds, after he allegedly bought pornography with town credit cards.


Although there does not seem to be any comprehensive policy regarding town credit card usage in other areas, several towns have been curbing the number of credit cards issued to avoid running into similar problems.

"We just never believed in it,"said Henniker town administrator Peter Flynn. "The potential for problems arising was something we foresaw here in town."

According to Flynn, Henniker has only a single credit card for supplies, which stays in the possession of the town administrator. Town employees do not have access to town-issued credit cards.


Franklin has two credit cards, which are kept in the town finance office. Any employee who needs one, though it is usually a supervisor or department head, can tell the office what they need, take the card and return it the same day. Most of the time, the card is used for supplies for jobs such as fixing windows or flooring, said a spokeswoman for the city manager's office.


Tilton's policy is even simpler, said Chairman of the Board of Selectman Richard Manseau: "We don't have any." The town will register and pay up front for any employee attending a conference or traveling, Manseau said. If an employee has an expense, he or she will fill out a report and be reimbursed by check.


Source: Concord Monitor