Residents press boards over alleged transfer of town funds to cover village legal fees

Several residents used the public comment period to press the select board and trustees for answers about transfers of town funds to cover legal fees linked to a quasi‑judicial employment hearing for the police chief.

Nicholas Selden (joining online) accused municipal manager "Mr. Duffy" of an "illegal transfer of money" from the town to the village to "pad the village's books" and said citizens had repeatedly asked for the issue to appear on the agenda. Selden asked whether the auditor had reviewed legal authorities, meeting minutes and the funding source for the transfer.

Peter Schumack told the boards the payments covered a village employment hearing and argued the town should not be liable for costs tied to village personnel matters. He said residents expect the select board to pursue recovery if funds were transferred inappropriately.

Auditor Tyler Kimberly responded that auditors are not attorneys and will not make legal determinations; he said auditors reviewed disclosures and noted the town was named as a defendant in the related case and would seek attorney documentation to understand the legal position. "We're auditors. We're not attorneys," Kimberly said, adding the firm will "look at the expenditures again and... make a determination there to reasonableness."

Board members acknowledged the concerns and said they would follow up; no legal conclusion or vote occurred during the meeting, and the auditor said future audits will track the matter as developments and attorney memos become available.