| Paul H. Boucher | |
|---|---|
| Maywood, Illinois Village Manager | |
| In office 1970–1970 |
|
| Ellenville, New York Village Manager | |
| In office 1969–1970 |
|
| Saugus, Massachusetts Town Manager | |
| In office 1967–1968 |
|
| Preceded by | John O. Stinson |
| Succeeded by | Clarence Wilkinson |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University[1] |
Paul H. Boucher was an American City manager who served as Town Manager of Saugus, Massachusetts and Village Manager of Ellenville, New York and Maywood, Illinois.
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On July 31, 1967 Boucher was chosen by the Saugus Board of Selectmen to serve as Town Manager on a six month trial basis.[2][3][4]
During his tenure as manager, the town fought the state government to close the M. DeMatteo dump on Massachusetts Route 107. After the town declined a request by State Health Commissioner Alfred Frechette to keep the dump open, Governor John A. Volpe signed an emergency order that would reopen the dump.[5][6] The town refused to comply with this order and the dump was not reopened until the state Department of Public Health was granted temporary restraining order by the Suffolk Superior Court.[6][7] The state agreed to shut down the facility by December 1, 1967, however the dump remained open pass this deadline and the issue was once again brought before the courts.[8][9]
Boucher was also involved in a controversy over the new Saugus Junior High School. On October 4, 1967 he announced that he was launching an investigation into defects in the construction of the school. He later alleged that $200,000 in funds might have been misused and that he wanted the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate if it had jurisdiction. He also told a The Daily Evening Item reporter that he had filed a complaint against architect John W. Priestley, Jr. with the American Institute of Architects' ethics committee and that he would seek to have his registration revoked by the State Board of Registration of Architects. The FBI did not investigate Boucher's claims and Priestley's licence was not revoked.[10]
In November 1967, Boucher was hospitalized after a recurrence of a respiratory ailment.[8]
On February 20, 1968, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously not to renew Boucher's six-month contract.[11]
In 1969, Boucher was appointed Village Manager of Ellenville, New York.[1]
In March 1970, Boucher was named Village Manager of Maywood, Illinois. On May 6, 1970 he was arrested and charged with theft by deception, improper use of license plates, and failure to register a vehicle in Illinois.[12] On May 15 the village board voted to suspend him indefinitely and on May 28 the board voted to fire him.[13][14]
On April 26, 1971 he pleaded guilty to theft of property under $150. Boucher admitted to securing a $2,500 loan from the Maywood Employees Credit Union and pledging the title of a camper truck as collateral. Although the agreement for this loan stated that the title was unencumbered, there was in fact an outstanding lien.[15]
On May 15, 1971 he was sentenced to three years probation and order to repay the $2,500 and $300 interest.[15]
On August 29, 1971, Boucher's probation was revoked after he was unable to make a scheduled $200 payment to the credit union. At his revocation hearing, Boucher testified that he was unable to secure employment and that his main sources of income were a welfare stipend of $256 a month, which he sent to his brother, who was caring for his three children, and unemployment benefits of $74 a week which he used to pay his rent and to care for his wife, who was in an institution. He was sentenced to one year in Cook County Jail. Boucher appealed the order revoking his probation to the Illinois Appellate Court on the grounds that his rights under the Illinois and United States Constitutions were violated because his imprisonment would be "tantamount to imprisonment of an indigent for failure to pay a debt".[15] The appellate court affirmed the Circuit Court of Cook County's decision on March 14, 1973. The Supreme Court of Illinois granted leave to appeal and on May 20, 1974 vacated the appellate court's decision.[15]