Resident Rebecca Trauer used public participation to tell the Select Board she has been harassed by the town manager and that the town acted on erroneous reports alleging vermin on her property.

Trauer said she received a letter in June from the town's planning official asserting the presence of rats and including photographs and reports. She said she requested the underlying statute and documentation, and that when she later received material by email it contained no images showing vermin. Trauer said neighbors provided photographs that she said did not substantiate the town's claim; she said the town manager told staff to send the letter. "You can slander somebody, you can have defamation of character to someone, and you can continually harass someone," Trauer told the board and asked for a public, written apology.

Board members and the manager questioned whether the resident had received the documents the town relied on; one board member confirmed Trauer had received photographs but said the town staff would follow up on record details. The manager and planning official told Trauer they would discuss the documentation and the Freedom of Information request.

Why it matters: A public allegation of harassment and a claim of erroneous enforcement activity raise governance and transparency questions for the municipal administration. Trauer requested a written apology and public resolution.

Background: Trauer said she had previously been warned about pallets stored near the right of way and moved them as requested; she said the recent letter about vermin was a renewed escalation. She said most complaints about the pallets originated from a neighbor in Norwich.

Next steps: Board members asked staff to follow up with Trauer and confirm the records and photographs that formed the basis for the town's letter; Trauer said she would consider further legal action if the board did not address the matter.