Bruce C. Forcier: 2-year struggle for transparency in South Hadley Water District 1

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Published: 12-15-2024 8:34 PM |
For the past two years, I have been engaged in an arduous journey to compel the South Hadley Water District 1 Board to comply with Secretary of State Determination SPR 22-1997 regarding cell phone records. This battle for transparency has escalated to the point of pursuing legal action in Hampshire Superior Court.
To date, Judge McDonough has issued a court order requiring the board to turn over statements related to the requested records. These statements of phone use by the superintendent raise serious concerns about the governance and oversight within the district.
The latest development in this saga is the consideration of a forensic analysis of the superintendent’s phone. Over a single year, the phone was used to send more than 19,000 text messages and store over 3,300 video and photo images. The sheer volume of activity demands closer scrutiny to determine its relevance and propriety.
This situation begs the question: Are the inmates running the asylum? It is imperative that public officials are held accountable and that taxpayers’ trust in their governance is restored. Transparency and compliance with the law are not optional; they are fundamental to the integrity of any public institution.
Bruce C. Forcier
South Hadley