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Resident alleges open‑meeting-law violations; council schedules workshop to address conduct
Summary
A South Berwick resident accused councilors of potential violations of Maine's open meeting law (1 M.R.S.A. §402) and urged release of emails. The council chair acknowledged issues and said a May workshop will discuss conduct, protocols and improved communication with staff.
A South Berwick resident used the public comment period to urge greater transparency and to allege that the council’s email practices may be violating Maine’s open meeting law.
"Maine's open meeting law 1 MRSA subsection 402 is very clear that public proceedings ... are any deliberation by a quorum on town matters," resident Susanna Spazto told the council, asking the body to release roughly 95 pages of emails referenced by Vice Chair Cook and to clarify protocols for council-to-staff communications. Spazto said the volume and tone of emails and pointed questioning have undermined staff morale and asked the council to adopt clearer rules about how councilors direct messages to town staff.
The chair acknowledged the concerns and said the council will address them at a May 8 workshop, committing to work with legal counsel and to improve procedures. "As chair I acknowledge we have some issues. We've been discussing them ... we will move it to the May 8th workshop," the chair said, adding the council will seek to reduce staff stress and improve communication channels. The chair also requested councilors route inquiries through the chair so staff receive consistent, single-point requests while the council develops a longer-term protocol.
The resident's request for the release of emails and clearer protocols was recorded in the meeting record; no formal action to release documents was taken during the session, and councilors said the matter will be considered at the upcoming workshop.
