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Resident accuses local activists of election interference, seeks refund for charged 'app requests'
Summary
During public comment, resident Charles Collins alleged recurring election interference by an individual he named, defended Richard Finnegan's public service and asked the town to refund fees he says were charged for 'app requests' that others received for free; the council enforced the two-minute comment limit and did not make a formal finding.
A Scituate resident used his public-comment time to air accusations about local political activity and to demand a refund for municipal fees.
Charles Collins of Third 14 Main Street told the council he was "hoping Richard would be here tonight" and criticized what he described as repeated pre-election "hit pieces" by a named individual. He said Richard Finnegan had served as chair of the Scituate Housing Authority and defended Finnegan’s actions while criticizing reporting he called incomplete.
Collins alleged that while he and another resident were being charged for "app requests," Mr. Finnegan received them for free and asked the council, "Is that fair to us?" He said he wanted his money refunded and asked for a written statement from the town explaining whether refunds would be provided; if not, he said he would seek resolution through an outside agency.
Council leadership intervened to enforce the two-minute public-comment limit. The transcript records interruptions and an admonition about time limits; no council finding, refund, or formal investigation was made during the meeting. Collins said he would return to speak again after the election and urged the incoming council to address unresolved complaints.
The council did not take a vote on the allegations or refund request at the meeting. The transcript records Collins’s claims and the council’s timekeeping but provides no staff response that adjudicates the refund claim or the allegation of coordinated election interference.
