Stonington detective files small claims action against town.

Filing is latest chapter in ongoing complaint against building inspectors

Stonington — Police detective Greg Howard has filed a $471 small claims suit against the town, alleging officials forced him to hire an inspector to look at mechanical upgrades in his Pawcatuck home, work he said he never did.

The filing of the action in New London Superior Court is the latest chapter in Howard’s complaint about how he said the town’s two building inspectors treated him after he made some unpermitted improvements at his Pawcatuck home.

Howard said the $471 includes the actual $153 he spent to hire the mechanical inspector and the eight hours of time he said he spent meeting with town officials and attending Board of Selectmen meetings on the matter. He said he based the cost of his time on the hourly rate he earns as a police officer.

Since last summer, Howard said he has asked the town to either explain why he had to hire the inspector for work that did not exist or reimburse him the $153. He said the town has done neither so he filed the small claim action. The town’s insurance carrier, the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency, has assigned the Branford firm of Milano and Wanat to handle the matter.

“They don’t have to pay me. Just give me an explanation (about why he had to hire the inspector),” Howard said Tuesday. “I’m not being unreasonable.”

Earlier this year Howard complained to First Selectman Rob Simmons about what he charged was the “unprofessional conduct” and “bullying” by Building Official Lawrence Stannard and Assistant Building Official Robert Chevalier.

Chevalier went to Howard’s home to inspect work that Howard had done without first obtaining a permit. Howard said he applied for a permit when he learned he needed one. The town then issued a permit after Howard met certain requirements.

Howard also charged the town inspectors are misinterpreting building codes and exceeding their authority by demanding work and inspections that are not legally required.

Howard has alleged that during Chevalier’s visit to his house, the building official declined his offer to remove the sheetrock so he could inspect the work he had done and told Howard he would have to hire a plumber, electrician and mechanical contractor to verify that the proper installations had been made. Howard said he was not sure why an HVAC inspection was needed, as no such work had been done, but Chevalier said air flow could have been altered by the other work.

Howard said Chevalier then told him, “I’m not going to allow anyone to say that I signed off on this just because you’re a cop.”

In addition, Howard has charged that Simmons called police Chief J. Darren Stewart and Stannard called police Capt. Todd Olson about Howard’s complaint after he filed it. Howard has said that calling his superiors about a building code issue was a way to try to intimidate him.

Howard has said he was speaking out on behalf of a large group of homeowners, contractors and business owners who have told him they, too, have been subjected to the “rude, condescending and unprofessional treatment” by the two men.

The town investigated Howard’s complaints and disciplined Stannard and Chevalier with warnings temporarily placed in their personnel files. Both men filed union grievances appealing their discipline.

Simmons could not be reached for comment Tuesday.