FairPoint Communications Inc., the embattled company that runs the state's landline telephone system, has hired former top Douglas administration staffer Mike Smith to be its point man in Vermont.
Not too long back, I heard Mr. Smith on VPR talking about his young geezer sports and outdoor activities website group. He sounded quite fond of being part of the younger retired demographic. Now it appears FairPoint has created a new job position for Governor Douglas’s former Secretary for Administration. FairPoint is in the midst of filing for bankruptcy and is wrangling with regulatory boards and legislators in three states. It appears he has been hired to polish FairPoint’s sometimes rocky relationship with legislators and regulatory boards in Vermont. At least they saved him from his brief encounter with early retirement.
Although retired from the Douglas administration in 2008 he must still have some skills FairPoint wishes to exploit and maybe a few connections that FairPoint needs.
Smith, who served as Secretary of Administration for Douglas, will assume the newly created position of Vermont State President and will represent the company before regulators and lawmakers and with business and community groups, FairPoint President Peter Nixon said Monday.
Just where Fairpoint needs to use its dwindling resources: salary-up another fatcat to work the system so that they won’t have to live up to their commitments.