NORTH ATTLEBORO - Selectmen will interview a single finalist for the building inspector's position this week.

Although a screening committee recommended three finalists from the slate of applications it received, two of them dropped out of the process, leaving Robert Speroni, who has been Medway's longtime building inspector, as the sole finalist.

Selectmen Chairman John Rhyno said Speroni will be interviewed Wednesday by the full board of selectmen. Rhyno said the board will then make a decision on whether to hire Speroni, or to seek additional candidates.

While the state's Open Meeting Law says the names of finalists for posts are public record, town officials initially balked at releasing Speroni's name.

Rhyno said Town Administrator Mark Fisher told him initially not to release the names because they aren't public. Rhyno then checked with the secretary of state's office, and the town's labor attorney Paul Mulkern before releasing the name to the public.

If Speroni is hired, he will replace the town's former Building Inspector Al Spaulding.

Spaulding left for a position in Wilmington just days before selectmen were expected to convene a disciplinary hearing.

The hearing was to determine whether any disciplinary action would be warranted because staff in the building department used photocopy fees collected from the public 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 warrant prosecution.

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