Trustee asks for investigation into allegations against staff; board schedules executive session to review written complaint

A trustee on Jan. 27 moved that the board direct the town attorney to engage an independent investigator to review allegations made against town personnel at the prior meeting. The motion prompted legal counsel to advise that allegations suggesting criminal conduct fall within the County District Attorney’s jurisdiction; counsel offered to review the submitted document with trustees in executive session.

The mover said the goal was fact‑finding, not seeking charges: “I am just asking to find out what was said and is it true,” the trustee said. Counsel Marcus replied that he could review the written complaint and answer legal questions in executive session and that if the allegations involve criminal conduct, the appropriate step would be to refer them to the District Attorney.

Trustees agreed on a friendly amendment to schedule an executive session at a future meeting to review the written material and ask specific legal questions; the board approved the scheduling by roll call. The board instructed the town attorney and staff to set the executive‑session date and to circulate the submitted document to trustees ahead of that meeting.

During the second public‑comment period, Don Smith addressed the board, asserting the clerk had lied to him on multiple occasions and urging further investigation: “Mary lied to me a couple of times...we need to find out what’s going on around here,” Smith said. The matter remains at the information‑and‑review stage; the board did not announce the date of the executive session during the public meeting.