Hooksett’s three Police Commission members said they would recuse themselves from handling a grievance filed by former police officer Jason Defina.

Defina, a 10-year Hooksett Police Department veteran, was fired by the commission in a 2-1 vote Sept. 8.

The decision, made Sept. 28, comes less than two weeks after state Rep. David Boutin filed legislation to increase the membership of the Police Commission from three to five. Boutin, who is also a Hooksett town councilor, told council members at their Sept. 9 meeting he delayed filing the legislation because Police Chief Stephen Agrafiotis told him privately he would “hang Hooksett’s laundry out to dry” if he did so.

Agrafiotis, who questioned the Town Council’s unanimous vote in favor of increasing the commission, acknowledged having a conversation with Boutin but denied making the laundry remark.

During the Sept. 28 Police Commission meeting, commission members discussed a list of approximately 12 candidates to oversee Defina’s grievance. They ultimately nominated three men who formerly served on the Police Commission. They are identified as Robert Normandeau, William Lyons and John Proctor.

Chairman David Gagnon said the commissioners removed themselves from handling the Defina issue to avoid any perceived bias. The three current commissioners, Gagnon, Henry Roy and Joanne McHugh, will continue to conduct normal business except on the Defina issue.

“We have too much knowledge about what went on,” he said.

Gagnon, who has been on the commission nine years, said he can’t remember the last time a board member has removed himself from an issue.

“I don’t know about the whole board, but I have never seen that happen before,” he said.

Defina’s attorney, Bill Cahill, confirmed shortly after the meeting that a grievance had been filed but would not give specifics or comment further.

“As you know, officer Defina was fired by the majority of the board,” Agrafiotis said at the Police Commission meeting. “That replacement board will make a decision if officer Defina can return to the job.”

The Police Commission, police chief, Defina nor their respective attorneys have said publicly why Defina was fired.

Immediately after his termination, Defina said he planned a legal fight to get his job back.

“I will still be a cop,” Defina said at the time. “There is no doubt in my mind that I will be back in Hooksett. I will be back with the Police Department and I deserve to be. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Defina could not be reached for comment shortly after the Police Commission meeting.

On Thursday, Sept. 24, Boutin said the legislation he filed would require town voters to approve increasing the Police Commission members in a town-wide ballot question.

“Twice now, there has been a unanimous council vote to do this, and all four state representatives (in Hooksett) are sponsoring the bill,” Boutin said.

Many council members previously cited greater transparency as one reason to increase the number of commissioners, but Boutin pointed to an increase in the town’s size as another reason.

“We’ve tripled in size” since the commission was formed in 1975, he said. “At one point several years ago, the citizens of Hooksett said a three-member board of selectmen was not enough and they changed to a nine-member Town Council. The argument is fundamentally the same. This is going to offer greater representation throughout the community.”