The ongoing pay dispute between the town of Dracut and its former police chief will now go to trial, after the court-ordered mediation failed to produce a resolution.   The dispute involved nearly $8000 of pay for former Police Chief Kevin Richardson.   

According to Dracut Town Manager Jim Duggan, the mediation was a good faith effort, but nothing was resolved.   He acknowledged all parties made an effort, despite no resolution.   Richardson and his attorney gave no public comment. 

The mediation session was not long and allowed both parties the opportunity to speak to the mediator separately, and to discuss the issues at hand as a group.   According to the town manager, the court ordered parties to try to resolve the dispute, but to no avail. 

The dispute arose when Richardson retired in July 2016.   He had been a member of the Dracut police force for 34 years and was paid more than $21,000 for unused sick time.   One September 6, he demanded $7759 in additional unused personal and compensatory time, along with a letter stating that if Richardson was not paid by September 20, he intended to file a complaint with the Massachusetts’s Attorney General’s Office.   

The town refused the demand, stating that the town bylaws do not entitle employees to payouts for unused comp or personal days.   The town continued to maintain that stance throughout the mediation.   Now, both sides are headed back to court and will receive a court ruling that will bind them to whatever decision is made by the judge.