Statement Of The Chair, Plymouth Select Board

Plymouth MA

25 November, 2020

11:05 PM

Description

Press release from the Town of Plymouth: November 25, 2020 "As Chair of the Plymouth Select Board, I offer the following statement regarding recent events involving relations between the Board and the Town Manager. The Select Board met with the Town Manager in executive session on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 to discuss complaints brought against the Town Manager regarding her accessing a Select Board member's e-mail without that member's knowledge. The meeting was held in executive session pursuant to the Open Meeting Law in the interest of protecting the rights not only of the Town Manager but of the Select Board member who brought the complaints. The Select Board is keenly aware of the public interest in this matter, but must act in a manner that protects and respects the civil rights of all those involved. In order to protect the rights of individuals, no agenda item was included for an open session discussion of this matter, and so the motion made later in the meeting simply could not be acted upon. In the executive session, the Town Manager explained that her action in monitoring e-mails was taken in the best interest of the Town and the oversight of its operations. The Board recognizes that the Town Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Town and so must be aware of all communications and requests to Town employees to assure that those employees act in an appropriate manner. The Board also recognizes that the e-mails in question, like all e-mails sent by or to Town employees, are public records, and that the Town Manager is legally entitled to review those e-mails. However, the Board is also aware that this issue presents a moral concern as opposed to simply a legal concern. This concern arises from the Town Manager's accessing the e-mails of a single Select Board member without that member's knowledge. Despite the public records aspect of these e-mails, trust between the Town Manager and members of the Select Board must be maintained. It is the intention of the Select Board to address this matter in open session through adoption of strict measures regarding e-mail access and communication with Select Board members. The Board will consider policy directives requiring that any procedure involving the Select Board be communicated with the entire Board, and that any such procedure shall apply equally to all Select Board members. The Board and the Town Manager will work together to adhere to their defined roles under the Town Charter, to better communicate on issues and procedures, and to rebuild the trust between the Board and the Town Manager." This press release was produced by the Town of Plymouth. The views expressed here are the author's own.