NORTH ATTLEBORO - Just days before selectmen planned to hold a disciplinary hearing on allegations that cash was misused in the building department, Building Inspector John "Al" Spaulding was offered a job in another town.

The Wilmington Advocate reported Wednesday that Spaulding has been hired as the building inspector for Wilmington. A secretary in the Wilmington Board of Selectmen's office also verified that Spaulding has been hired for the job, which is expected to start on July 7.

Selectmen Chairman John Rhyno said to his knowledge Wednesday that Spaulding had not resigned or indicated that he will be taking a job in another town.

"If he's still employed by the town, the disciplinary hearing will be held as scheduled," Rhyno said.

Spaulding is on vacation from the North Attleboro office this week, and could not be reached for comment. Selectmen planned to hold a hearing next week to determine whether disciplinary action is warranted for Spaulding after learning staff in the building department used fees collected from the public for photocopying to buy coffee, food and birthday cakes for fellow employees.

The $1-per-page copying fee was supposed to be turned over to the town treasurer's office, which verified it had not received any cash from the office since at least 2006.

Police conducted an extensive investigation into the matter, but said evidence in the case did not rise to the level to warrant criminal prosecution.

It is not clear how much money was collected by the building department each year in copy fees because there was no documentation kept prior to March, when the townwide petty cash policy changed.

After the investigation, Spaulding acknowledged that the copying money was mixed in with staff-funded petty cash. However, he said the amount of money involved was small and that changes have been made so cash brought in from photocopying is now handled differently.

All money collected for building permits - for which cash is not accepted - was handled properly.