Discovering no illegal activities, the state’s attorney office has ceased its investigation into North Haven’s building department.

“The town of North Haven had asked us to look into whether their building official was in compliance with town policy, appropriate laws and regulations, as well as whether he was in violation of state statutes,” said New Haven State’s Attorney Michael Dearington said last week. “Based on information provided by North Haven, as well as interviews with members of the office, we concluded that there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Accordingly, our investigation has been closed.”

Potential building department concerns first arose in December 2009 when, during the public comment portion of a Board of Selectmen’s meeting, several residents aired anxieties, including that a state investigation had commenced the month before. Since then, multiple properties with possible problems have been identified throughout town, totaling approximately $50,000 in wrongly charged permit fees.

North Haven building official Dave Maiden was placed on paid administrative leave by town officials on May 28. Earlier in the month, private auditor firm Kostin, Ruffkess & Co. began investigating the building department on behalf of the town.

Prior to Maiden’s leave and the hiring of the auditor, several residents called for First Selectman Michael Freda to take quicker action on the building department matter.

“All along I have really been very careful with having a thorough process,” Freda said last week. “I have to balance the presumption of innocence with also representing the best interests of North Have. This needs to be a very careful, methodical process.”

Kostin, Ruffkess & Co. is continuing to inspect whether procedural errors occurred. “We’re trying to determine whether or not the town did lose any fees over the years going back to 2002,” Freda said. “There is no more investigation into the criminal aspect.”

Freda was unsure when the audit would be completed. “It could be a lengthy process based on the scope of what we’re doing internally,” he said.

The audit took the place of a state building department probe into North Haven’s building department. “I was disappointed with the process of the state building department,” Freda said. “They were too slow and cumbersome, so I engaged the auditors.”

Maiden’s attorney, John Gesmonde of Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari of Hamden, did not return phone calls.