NORTH ATTLEBORO - A dispute between a member of the building department and North Attleboro Electric has sparked a decision by selectmen to postpone their annual appointment of the town's wiring inspector.

North Attleboro Electric and Wiring Inspector Paul LaFratta have recently traded letters regarding a dispute over electrical work done at a downtown business. Details of the dispute were not clear at Thursday's meeting, leading selectmen to postpone the appointment of the wiring inspector for two weeks.

The postponement means that the wiring inspector's post will be vacant for most of the first week of June because LaFratta's current appointment ends on May 31. Town Administrator Mark Fisher said Assistant Wiring Inspector Bruce Haselton can carry out the department's duties in the interim.

Electric commission Chairman Thomas Corrigan alluded to the issues between North Attleboro Electric and LaFratta when he appeared before selectmen complaining there is little communication between departments.

He also criticized selectmen Chairman John Rhyno for collecting letters at his business from residents or officials with concerns. "I cannot stop residents from dropping off letters at my garage," Rhyno said, adding that all of the letters are passed along to the board and the town administrator's office.

"You get so many letters, you should have your own zip code," Corrigan replied. "There has been a series and series and series of letters, and we're still getting zero communication."

Selectmen said they did not have enough information to discuss the matter and noted that LaFratta wasn't there to give his side of the story.

"The people involved are not here to respond to this stuff. I don't want to give anyone the impression that they will be talked about when they aren't here to defend themselves," Selectman Michael Thompson said.

Corrigan also alluded to an August incident when LaFratta was fined $3,000 by the state Ethics Commission for violating conflict of interest laws.

At that time, LaFratta admitted to the conflict when he approved permit applications filed by LaFratta Electric, a business he owns with his son, to do private electrical work on six occasions in 2005 and 2006.

LaFratta said he was only following the policy established by the prior building inspector requiring him to initial the paperwork.

"There's been a pattern. When are we going to have a (disciplinary) hearing for the electrical inspector?" Corrigan said.

Complicating matters further, selectmen have two candidates for the wiring inspector's job. LaFratta has reapplied and David French, a North Attleboro resident and self-employed electrician, has also applied.

French appeared before selectmen Thursday to say that most of his work is done in the Boston area. "If I am duly appointed, I will not perform anymore work in town," he said.