Amidst rumors that the Boothbay town manager was spotted filling his truck with gas at the town fuel depot after hours, the Boothbay Selectmen have cleared the air.

He is actually saving the town money.

Instead of charging the town 56 cents per mile, Boothbay Town Manager Jim Chaousis has opted to fill up his truck at the town fuel depot. He said he has saved the town nearly $3,000 so far.

When Chaousis took office in 2010, the town issued him a monthly vehicle stipend of $350 in lieu of mileage reimbursement. But when the town upgraded its fuel depot to an automated tracking system, Chaousis found more efficient ways to save the town money.

The upgraded fuel depot records transactions of authorized personnel through microchips attached to car keys. Each chip tracks the exact price and quantity of fuel used by each employee. Chaousis discovered what he used in gas for monthly business travel would be cheaper than his $350 stipend.

On September 12, 2011 the selectmen signed the new fuel reimbursement policy, and for the last 18 months or so, Chaousis has filled up his truck at the town depot — the sight of which has also fueled rumors.

So why does the town manager need to be reimbursed for fuel? Chaousis drives his own Chevy Silverado pickup truck during regular business hours. Whether traveling to Augusta to attend legislative hearings, or simply visiting sites around town as a road commissioner and other duties, Chaousis said there are a lot of reasons he travels for the town. But some residents have been skeptical.

In an open letter to the Boothbay selectmen, Chaousis wrote: “Trust is very important to me. I am frustrated by the public that have questioned my integrity but I understand skepticism. I also understand why the selectmen would want me to report this data, but I have opened these books to anyone that has asked.”

Chaousis compiled a list of fuel transactions for the last fiscal year that tracked how many times he used the depot in the past seven months. Since July 2013, Chaousis has used $1,593.35 of fuel, which has saved the town $856.65 when compared to the previous contract.

On average, Chaousis used $272.62 in gas per month. By the end of this fiscal year, it's projected the town will save $1,468.54.

The board of selectmen said Chaousis deserves a pat on the back for not only keeping records transparent, but saving the town money.

“He saved us a lot of money and it was his idea, and he needs to be commended for saving us money,” Selectman Steve Lewis said.