Residents criticize council conduct at school meeting; call for response from councilors

During public comment at the Hopkinton Town Council meeting on March 17, residents Justin Bentley and Joe Morrow urged the council to address what they described as inappropriate behavior by Councilor Roy at a March 11 school committee meeting.

Justin Bentley, of Ashaway, told the council he watched the school‑committee video and emailed council members with a time stamp showing an incident near the 2 hour, 19 minute mark. Bentley said the video shows Councilor Roy turn, point and shout at a family walking out of the meeting and that he found that conduct "absolutely reprehensible." He asked whether the other council members condoned the behavior and asked for a response by email, saying an apology to the citizens of Hopkinton and the Cherryhope community could be appropriate in the future.

Joe Morrow said he had not known about the incident until Bentley raised it and said he believed the reported behavior by an elected official was "outrageous" and sent the wrong message about the town. Morrow told the council he has known Bentley since 2018 and supported the request for a response from the council.

Council did not take formal disciplinary action during the March 17 meeting; the item was raised during the public‑comment period and several residents asked for an email response or apology rather than an on‑the‑spot reply. The council president acknowledged public comment and moved on to the agenda; no council motion followed specific to the accusations during the meeting.

Why this matters: accusations about an elected official’s conduct at another public meeting can affect public trust and expectations of impartiality from representatives. Public commenters requested a written response or apology and asked the council to clarify whether members condoned the behavior.

Next steps: residents asked that councilors respond by email to the complainant; no formal council action was recorded on March 17.