NORTH ATTLEBORO - Selectmen are researching whether disciplinary action should be taken against Wiring Inspector Paul LaFratta, who was fined $3,000 by the state Ethics Commission this week for violating conflict of interest laws.

Selectmen Chairman William Moffitt emphasized that the board is not currently considering disciplinary action. However, he asked Town Administrator Mark Fisher to research whether other communities have taken disciplinary action in similar cases in the past.

"I'm not saying that's what will happen there. It's about finding out what might be appropriate," Moffitt said.

LaFratta admitted to violating the conflict-of-interest law, when he approved permit applications filed by LaFratta Electric Inc., a business owned by himself and his son, Michael, to do private electrical work on six occasions in 2005 and 2006.

LaFratta initialed the applications after determining the applicant was a duly licensed electrician and the estimated value of the electric work was consistent with the work described on the permit application. The Ethics Commission said it did not have any evidence that the applications would not have otherwise been approved or that LaFratta inspected or approved any electrical work performed by the company.

LaFratta appeared before selectmen on Thursday to discuss the issue, saying a policy requiring him to initial applications was created by a former building inspector. He also alleged that he has been targeted as the subject of three anonymous complaints to the Ethics Commission.

"This was a policy that was started after a bunch of discussions. The ladies in the office were being overwhelmed with permits, and I wasn't even seeing the applications. This policy was made to make the system better," LaFratta said.

Selectman Dale Langille asked that liaisons from the board meet with the building inspector's office to go over the office policies.

"If this is a policy implemented by the previous building inspector, I'd like to know if other inspectors followed the same policy," Langille said. "We only had one inspector who was singled out."

Selectman John Rhyno shared those concerns, asking, "How does an internal document find its way to ethics?"

Selectwoman Marjorie Kraskouskas said she was less concerned about how the information got to the Ethics Commission than the format of the policy on how permit applications should be processed. The document containing the instructions is not on town letterhead and is not signed by a department head.

Selectman Paul Belham said the board needs to ensure that the building department is running properly.

"My main concern is the building department is up and running and treating residents and contractors the way they should be treated," he said "I want things online and going forward to a brighter future with less publicity."

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.