HAMPTON - With construction on the town's new police facility about to begin, a clerk of the works has been hired to oversee the project, and protect the town's, the construction company's and the architect's interests.

Dick Violette, a former member of the Planning Board, has been hired to the full-time position and, beginning this week, will be on the site on a daily basis. The job is expected to last at least 15 months.

This project is not the first temporary full-time job that Violette has undertaken on the town's behalf.

Violette, who works part-time as the town's grease trap inspector, was originally chosen to oversee the town's move from the old Town Hall building to the community's new facility just down the road in the late 1990s.

After completing that project, he was assigned as liaison between Severino Trucking, the town and the Hampton business community during the reconstruction of Route 1 and Highland Avenue at the beach.

"Dick came in and handled the Town Hall move and did a good job," said Town Manager James Barrington. "Then, we threw him into both the Route 1 and Highland Avenue projects, and he did an equally good job in keeping the business community informed of the progress of those projects."

Barrington characterized Violette as "a very detail-oriented kind of guy."

"We're glad to have Dick on board on this project," Barrington said.

Violette downplayed his role as clerk of the works, saying he will have little authority to mandate anything.

"I'm only a liaison between the town and the contractor. I'll keep the records on the construction progress, report to the town manager, ... keep track of the progress schedule, make sure insurance policies are submitted ... like being the eyes and ears of the town here," Violette said at the job site Wednesday.

He said that heavy equipment - including pile-driving equipment - is scheduled to arrive next week.

Violette's first responsibility is to coordinate Police Department parking and lighting on the project.

Violette said he wants to downplay his responsibilities, saying he will keep "at arm's length from the principals in the project," report to the town manager and "let my actions speak for me."