Stonington - The town has agreed to pay a Stamford attorney more than $12,000 to investigate veteran Zoning Officer Joe Larkin and how his office operates and possibly make recommendations for improvement.

Attorney Jane Freeman agreed to the terms of the contract several days ago. She will now have five to six months to complete her probe, which involves an estimated 44.5 hours of work billed at $275 an hour. This comes to $12,237.

The actual costs will exceed that as the contract states Freeman will bill the town for mileage at a rate of 50 cents per mile and a flat rate of $275 for each round trip between her office and Stonington. The town will also be charged for copies and other miscellaneous expenses.

Freeman has 30 years of experience handling planning and zoning issues, is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association's Planning and Zoning Executive Committee and has handled zoning appeals in both Superior and Appellate Court.

According to the contract, Freeman will initially meet with First Selectman Ed Haberek, Larkin, Director of Planning Bill Haase and other planning staff to discuss how Larkin has dealt with complaints and violations and what procedures were used.

She will also review complaints identified by Haberek as well as all Larkin's files and appeals to the Zoning Board of Appeals since 2006. She has also allocated four hours to possibly talk with residents who have complained about Larkin.

Freeman will prepare a final report that will include recommendations, if warranted. She will then meet with Haberek and planning staff to discuss any recommendations she has and how to implement them.

Haberek announced the probe in October after he received complaints about bias and inconsistent enforcement of zoning regulations by Larkin, who is the president of the Connecticut Association of Zoning Enforcement Officials, the statewide professional group that promotes education and integrity among its members.

The announcement of the investigation came after Larkin issued a notice of violation to Carol Holt and Thompson Wyper for erecting an illegal sign with a large "F" and "U" on the side of their Lord's Point shed. The sign was directed at the home of their neighbors James and Thomasine O'Boyle.

The town then rescinded the notice based on an opinion from Town Attorney Thomas Londregan. Larkin had issued the notice of violation after Haase, his boss, said the sign was not a zoning issue.

The controversy resulted in numerous residents reiterating their feeling that over the years Larkin has shown favoritism in the enforcement of regulations. Haberek said that after hearing such concerns during his two years in office, it was time to take action.

Larkin recently said he often finds himself in the middle of neighbor disputes but like a police officer, he must enforce the law, something that may upset the parties that are involved. He said that he does not takes sides in zoning disputes.

"I root for the regulations," he said.