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Residents press selectmen on welfare assistance gaps and a records release dispute
Summary
During public input, residents raised two separate concerns: a dispute over town withholding of materials from an MRI investigation (a records-release/ privacy issue) and multiple reports that tenants did not receive expected welfare assistance, leaving advocates to issue eviction notices. The chair advised petitioners to consult town counsel while promising to look into the welfare complaints.
Two members of the public used the board's public-input periods on May 26 to press the selectmen on separate, substantive issues.
Richard Finathy Jr. told the board he had received a letter stating the town declined to authorize MRI to release materials related to a past investigation and that the town had characterized those materials as exempt because "the disclosure would constitute an invasion of privacy." He asked whether the board had seen the full information; the chair replied that the board had seen "everything that we can release to you" and suggested Finathy consult town counsel for further questions.
Later, Roger Sample said he was speaking "for tenants" who he said were promised welfare assistance but did not receive it. Sample described a case in which a tenant he was helping did not get the aid she was told she would receive, and as a result he gave her an eviction notice. He urged the board to investigate why the welfare office had not provided timely assistance and to ensure the town follows applicable state requirements, citing that "even in a default budget, you have to pay for rent," and calling for the selectmen to look into the matter.
The presiding selectman expressed sympathy, said staff were "doing things by the book," and promised to "look into it," while also advising petitioners to contact the town's attorneys for legal questions. No formal action or vote was recorded on either the records-release or welfare matters during the meeting; both items were left to follow-up outside the meeting.
Next steps: the chair suggested petitioners contact town counsel; the board committed to reviewing the welfare-office handling and to follow up as appropriate.
