Attorney Generals Office Will Investigate Rail Foul Play Allegations

The contract in question would let Miford Bennigton Railroad haul freight over the state owned portion of the Hillsboro branch rail line.

Milford Bennington has provided the service for ten years.

The company’s owner is Peterborough Representative Peter Leishman who sits on the powerful House Finance Committee.

According to David Fink, president of Pan Am Systems, a railroad company that was interested in vying for this contract, Leishman’s status as a lawmaker led to preferential treatment from Transportation commissioner George Campbell.

I had phone calls advising me that the head of the Finance Committee was bringing pressure on the Commissioner and there’s a number of things of which, I was astounded.

Fink first made these charges- which have been denied by Finance Chair Marjorie Smith- in a letter he sent to the Governor, Attorney General, and the 5 members of the Executive Council.

The letter was enough to put off voting on the contract pending the AG’s investigation.
For his part, Representative Peter Leishman says he has no problem delaying the vote.

But he denies all the accusations being made by Pan Am.

Yea I haven’t seen the letter but that’s absolutely false. I mean there’s no collusion I don’t have any impact on the DOT budget I’m in division 1 in finance. There was no collusion there was a renewal of an existing agreement.

In its letter, Pan Am pointed out that Leishman’s company missed a deadline to secure that renewal.

A fact Leishman doesn’t contest.

Whatever the facts are in this case, Deputy Attorney General Bud Fitch told the Governor and Council his office would follow them.

We understand the attorney general’s office will determine what questions need to be answered and obtain those answers and take whatever action is appropriate moving forward and at the appropriate time report back to you on the outcome of that process.

Pan Am officials say they’re pleased the Attorney General is taking up the case.

Governor John Lynch didn’t seem particularly disturbed by the allegations and told reporters there was no harm in investigating them.

So I think it’s just some questions that need to be looked into and there’s no harm in having that item tabled particularly with a six month extension onto the existing contract and letting whatever questions are asked be answered. There’s no downside in doing that.

In the meantime, there’s not expected to be any disruptions to the one customer now served by 24 mile stretch that makes up the Hillsboro Branch line.