SHUTESBURY — A Select Board member’s emailed response about a resident’s possible appointment to the Lake Wyola Advisory Committee caused an improper deliberation outside a public meeting and a violation of the state’s Open Meeting Law, according to a determination by the state attorney general.
At the direction of the state office, the Select Board at its meeting at Town Hall on Tuesday resolved the matter, brought forward in a complaint filed by resident Thomas Siefert in August, by reading into the record the contents of the email chain.
That email chain started in June when Siefert sent an email to Town Administrator Hayley Bolton and the Select Board members expressing his distress about certain actions taken against him by a member of the Lake Wyola Advisory Committee. Bolton then asked the the three members, “do we want to send a response?” with the violation occurring when member Eric Stocker sent an email to Bolton and his colleagues.
The Jan. 22 decision, signed by KerryAnne Kilcoyne, assistant attorney general for the division of open government, states, “We find that the board violated the Open Meeting Law by deliberating among a quorum via email. While we commend the board for acknowledging the violation during the meeting held on Aug. 12, 2025, the board must take the additional step of publicly releasing the June 5, 2025 emails sent by Mr. Stocker.”
While Select Board Chairwoman Melissa Makespeace-O’Neil disposed of the matter by reading the emails, Siefert, participating remotely, expressed concern about the content of Stocker’s email.
Stocker wrote, “I think there are some legitimate reasons for a committee to not want Tom on it. He has proven several times he is not a good team player.” That referenced disparaging comments Siefert allegedly made toward a member of the committee, as well as his decision to challenge Makepeace-O’Neil as a write-in candidate last April, and earning just over one-third of the vote.
Makespeace O’Neill said making a mistake in communications via email can occur. “There is a human nature to our work that sometimes this happens,” Makepeace O’Neil said.
Stocker said he apologizes for the error, which he realized moments after sending the email. “It is very easy to make some slip up like that, and I’d be the first to admit something like that was made,” Stocker said.
But while Siefert said he appreciates the apology, he wants to address the contents of Stocker’s email, and get an explanation for how the allegations ended up in the email, “all of which I vehemently deny as being untrue and unfounded.”
“It hurt a lot to read the unfounded and untrue claims Eric wrote,” Siefert said.
He add that residents and town employees should have a process for speaking out against possibly inappropriate behavior by officials, arguing that he was potentially defamed by Stocker.
Stocker denied that had occurred. “There was nothing malicious by what I wrote here. They’re facts,” Stocker said
Bolton said if Siefert wishes to bring a complaint against the body or a board member, she will work with him on that approach.
Siefert said he wants to raise concerns about whether a defamatory email has created a liability for the town.
“It creates the question about the Select Board suppressing democratic activity in the public, and it probably deserves an apology,” Siefert said.
“I guess I can only stress how hurt I am and how disappointed I am in the Select Board in this matter,” Siefert said.