Gilford Contractor Stiffs Workers

After working for a local painting contractor last summer, three young Rumanian men went home owed more than $5,000 in unpaid wages when their boss disappeared. But, thanks to the efforts of Bill Totten, a builder from Gilford, all three may yet get the payday they earned.

Jerry Belanger, an inspector with the New Hampshire Department of Labor (DOL) who covers Belknap and Carroll counties, recalled that he was contacted by two of the men, who are brothers, about three weeks ago. They said they had been working as painters for David Auld of Gilford and were preparing to return to Rumania, but had been owed wages for four weeks.

When Belanger confronted Auld, he readily admitted he owed the men $5,160. "He admitted it to me, no question," Belanger said. Before the three Rumanians left for home, one of the men left his mailing address, phone number and e-mail address, along with deposits slips for a local bank where he had an account, with Belanger. "I told him I'll do the best I can for you," Belanger said.

Belanger said that Auld assured him he would deliver the money on Friday, October 15. On Thursday, Auld called Belanger, who said that "he told me he had some of the money, but not all of it and would need more time." Belanger agreed to wait until Monday, but "when I called, lo and behold David didn't answer his cell phone." Instead, he discovered the number he was given was in fact not Auld's, but that of another Lakes Region contractor. When Belanger asked about Auld's whereabouts the man began laughing and referred him to Totten.

Belanger met with Totten, who was working on a job in South Down Shores. "Totten told me that David was nowhere to be found," Belanger said. Moreover, Totten said that he paid Auld $6,500 in advance for a painting job only to find that he never loaded a brush.

"I would like to do something for the three Rumanians," Totten said yesterday, explaining that he would be speaking to the Bank of New Hampshire, where one man has an account, to see about arranging a fund to collect the back wages owed the three Rumanians.

Meanwhile, Belanger said that the DOL would pursue Auld for non-payment of wages, which is a civil offense. He said the department could hold a hearing, order him to make payment and, if necessary, attach his property.