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HE OURIER T SERVINGC THE NORTH COUNTRY SINCE 1889 www.courier-littletonnh.com [email protected] 125TH YEAR, 31ST ISSUE LITTLETON, N.H., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2009 75¢ (USPS 315-760) Former LRH JUST HANGING AROUND employees file lawsuit By ART McGRATH in that suit. That person, [email protected] Antoinette Thomas required LITTLETON—Littleton Heinrichs to take notes concern- Regional Hospital (LRH) is cur- ing counseling sessions he held rently the subject of an unlawful in the course of his duties as pas- termination lawsuit by former tor, sessions that were supposed employees. to be kept confidential. The lawsuit, filed by Mark Bisson, a nurse with 20 years Heinrichs and Deborah Bisson experience, alleged in her suit July 29, alleges that both were against LRH that conditions for fired because the hospital admin- the nursing staff were extreme, istration engaged in a pattern of and that while many hospitals intimidation against its employ- are understaffed, LRH was dan- ees who were outspoken, rather gerously so. Many nurses worked than laid off for the economic for 12 hours at a time without reasons given by LRH adminis- even a break, she said. trators. The resignation of a depart- Heinrichs and Bisson were ment head just as she arrived left both part of a layoff on May 19 “the occupational and employee when seven people were cut from health departments in a turmoil.” the hospital staff. Bisson also alleged that, like This was the latest in a series Heinrichs, when she tried to of such suits. In May 2008, for- offer suggestions or opinions she mer nurse Christopher Pollich was told they “were not wel- sued LRH for wrongful termina- come.” Objections she made to tion, citing many of the same using elderly volunteers to shred reasons as Heinrichs and Bisson. important documents, some- In 2007 former nurses Jill thing they shouldn’t have been Davidson and Nina Brown also asked to do she said, were sued for the same reason, citing ignored. patterns of intimidation against Both Heinrichs and Bisson the staff. That suit was settled for are claiming economic damage an undisclosed amount. and emotional distress and are PHOTO BY DUANE CROSS “Since approximately 2002, looking to the court for unspeci- While his Mom guards the tree from the ground, this cub enjoys some playtime in Franconia recently. LRH has engaged in a campaign fied compensation. of intimidation directed at cer- tain employees,” Heinrichs alleged in his suit. “Many of whom are targeted because they Alex Ray completes a $17 million renovation in Claremont refuse to ignore bad or dangerous By JEFF WOODBURN looking for a good deal on a used numerous other properties. wondering if his model isn’t a ful enthusiasm, an eye for detail hospital practices.” Special to The Courier vat fryer at a Portsmouth restau- Ray is an unlikely real estate recipe for disaster, but in the end, and an innate market sense.” They have also been fired for Last spring, amidst the worst rant auction, but instead ended up guru. He is famous for his short- Ray’s passion and true brilliance ‘Gut builder’ doing things “LRH found offen- economic downturn since the coming home with yet another comings—he’s impulsive, erratic, for building shines through. For Ray, real estate develop- sive,” even when it was ethical, Great Depression, Alex Ray, the restaurant—the former Victory disorganized and, his lawyer and You have to understand, said ment is more of an art than a sci- Heinrichs alleged. venerable but quixotic restaura- Restaurant on State Street. builder agree, too nice and honest longtime friend and attorney Jack ence. He doesn’t follow systems, On many occasions teur and founder of the Common It was not an uncommon in a business that counts those McCormack, who cooked with models and, at times, seems to Heinrichs said he tried to share occurrence for the founder of the Man Family of Restaurants, was qualities as weaknesses. Ray in the early 1970s, “He has no defy the old carpenter’s rule to concerns expressed to him by Common Man Restaurant chain. midway through a $17 million SEE RAY, PAGE A15 staff members about bullying but It was, after all, classic Alex Ray. Sometimes he leaves admirers history of failure and has a youth- renovation of a decrepit old mill he was ignored or rebuffed each In fact, since then, he’s also building in the downtrodden city time. acquired at auction the landmark From 1998 to his layoff sever- of Claremont. Bobby’s Girl Diner in New Kelley asks for no budget al months ago, Heinrichs served It was a property where the last Hampton. as the pastor and pastoral care three developers had failed, and ]In 1987, after nearly two coordinator. During a trial of Ray was a long way from home decades of running a small restau- increases this year two former employees who sued and his model of building restau- rant in Ashland and another one LRH several years ago, rants near Interstate 93. This in Lincoln, Ray took his show on Heinrichs testified on their project was by far his largest and the road and began turning run- Says taxpayers need to be kept in mind behalf. In response he claims most complicated—so much so down real estate and poisoned LRH fired him. that he even brought on a busi- properties into unique, eclectic LITTLETON—Steve rule, meaning if the budget goes budget and will be able to keep After the Davidson suit, ness partner. places that house his restaurants. Kelley, the chairman of the up 7 percent in a year in little it down, Kelley said. He said he LRH assigned Heinrichs to Despite it all, Ray was nothing He now sits atop an empire of 17 town budget committee, said over 10 years, it doubles. also thinks the school board and work with one of the defendants close to discouraged. He went restaurants, two hotels and the committee would be looking Kelley said he took an infor- new Superintendent Thomas to keep town and school budg- mal poll of various committee Stephens will be able to do the ets flat next year. members and all agreed to work same with the school budget. OFF TO THE NEXT EVENT This means as much as pos- to keep both budgets as low as “We are masters of our own sible there will be no increases possible. destiny,” Kelley said. “Fourteen in budgets, he said. That will be “It was unanimous that we million dollars is a lot of money, difficult because of contractual come up with town and school I hope to maintain a flat line obligations concerning person- budgets that do not increase budget.” nel, who are receiving automat- town or school taxes,” Kelley One major way to keep costs ic pay increases. said. down will be to try and get per- “No matter what, those go Kelley said he feels more sonnel costs down. While he up,” he said during a School comfortable this year that it will and other budget committee Administrative Unit 84 board be possible to do just that. The members are not looking to lay meeting Monday night, citing town manager is more experi- anyone off, at the same time the what he called the seven to 10 enced dealing with Littleton’s SEE KELLEY, PAGE A15 Board pushing new tech center By ART McGRATH The current Hugh Gallen would have authorized the build- [email protected] Career and Technical Center and ing of the structure. The article LITTLETON—The the nearby Daisy Bronson from the year before authorizing Littleton School Board is pushing Middle School are old buildings money for planning and engi- ahead and planning for the build- and are due to be replaced. neering was a non-lapsing article ing of a new combined Career However, a warrant article to do and was good until 2013 or until and Technical Center and middle just that failed during town meet- the money ran out. school. ing this year. “It was separate and apart During Monday night’s Board Chair Milt Bratz said from this year’s warrant articles,” school board meeting, the board the school district’s attorney said Bratz said. heard a presentation by Chris the board could use any remain- Breadloaf only spent $120,000 ART MCGRATH/THE COURIER Huston of Breadloaf ing funds from a warrant article of the $180,000 slated for that Children from the Littleton Recreation Program go from one event to another during Construction, from Vermont, the from two years ago to pay for fur- purpose, leaving around $60,000, a combined recreation day at Dow Field in Franconia recently. There were partici- firm the board hired last year to ther planning for the project. This board members noted. pants from seven different programs in the area ranging from Littleton to Colebrook. plan the replacement building is despite the failure at town Huston estimated that and present it to the people. meeting of the warrant article that SEE TECH CENTER, PAGE A14 Littleton, N.H., 42 pages INSIDE 33 Main Street LOCAL INSIDE LOCAL NEWS . .A2 CLASSIFIEDS . .B10 SPORTS . B1 COURT . .A6 Racers tear up Mill Street EDITORIAL . .A4 FROM THE FRONT . .A15 course at Top Furniture moving CARTOON . .A4 SPOTLIGHTS . .C1 forward with REAL ESTATE . .B7 OBITUARIES . .A14 Notch Triathlon LETTERS . .A4 AREA NEWS . .A8 B1 expansion POLICE . .A6 CALENDAR . .C8 A2 A2 THE COURIER, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2009 Area News Mill Street furniture expanding Haverhill holding By ART McGRATH Street,” said Skip Gray, who size of the mattress store and That Jazz storefront will give [email protected] owns the store with his wife extends all the way back to Mill the store more room and visibil- town meeting in LITTLETON—Main Deb.

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