Selectman Grant: At the meeting of the Casco Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Aug. 31, more than 100 residents packed the room to witness you and other selectmen make fools of yourselves, further sully the reputation of our long-serving town manager and bring shame on the town of Casco.

Mr. Grant, we sat and watched while you tried to convene an illegal executive session to discuss the disciplining of a public employee without having provided that employee proper notice. We listened as you stumbled through recitation of Maine statutes as though listing these laws legitimized your motion. We sat and watched your partners in this effort, Selectmen Morton and Fernandes, watch you struggle with the motion, silently cheering you on.

We watched as you clumsily tried to prevent the disclosure of the authors of the letters that you were using as the basis for your executive session. And then the gloves came off when David Morton spoke up and as the public employee named in the letters, allowed them to be read into the record by Barbara York. Selectwoman York then read the letters by Jeannine Oren and Jennifer Murray accusing David Morton of defaming their characters, to those assembled, and into the record.

At that point, the people of Casco stopped watching and began speaking.

For the better part of the next two hours, Mr. Grant, we watched you sit at the head table with a smirk upon your face as resident after resident stepped up to the podium and took you and your two associates to task. We heard words that I have never heard spoken in Casco public meetings before: vendetta, lynching and witch hunt!

We listened to Mr. Arthur Silverman, a Casco summer resident and attorney, correctly inform you that you were denying our Town Manager of his right to due process, and question you why these letters from Oren and Murray constituted grounds for disciplinary action. This is one of many questions you never did answer, Mr. Grant.

We listened as many residents stepped up to the microphone and declared their belief that they trusted David Morton with the affairs of Casco more than they did the Board of Selectmen. Did you hear the people, Mr. Grant?

We listened as Mr. James Willey, a Casco businessman, asked why he saw Selectwoman Fernandes at Selectman Carroll Morton’s residence on Monday, Aug. 30, and also saw Mr. Grant’s motorcycle parked in the driveway at the same time- evidence that an unannounced meeting of selectmen was taking place. For the record Mr. Grant, I agree with Mr. Willey’s response to you – do you remember it? – when you refuted that no illegal meeting had occurred. I and many other Casco residents are of the opinion that many unannounced meetings have been occurring for quite some time.

We listened as Mr. Kevin Hancock issued the best advice of the evening when he counseled the board to indeed go into executive session, but use that meeting to take a look in the mirror, and ask if you are acting in such a manner to inspire confidence in your leadership, and operating for the best interests of the town? Are you promoting an environment that would inspire people to want to work for Casco? Right now, it’s quite obvious the answer to both of those questions is “no”.

I hope you took note of the petition that was circulating during the meeting. This petition will place a question on the November ballot asking Casco residents if they would like to enact a recall ordinance for elected officials. Based upon what you experienced last night Mr. Grant, how do you think that vote will turn out? And should the not-so-well hidden agenda of the “New Majority” continue to be pursued, whom do you think will be the first recalled?

Mr. Grant, although I am sure Casco voters will remember the events of the last few months for a long, long time, it is not too late to make a course correction. Many in town, myself among them, believe that the time has come for you and your compatriots to forgo enacting and reacting to every demand, request and threat from Ms. Oren and Ms. Murray, and get on with the business of the town of Casco. As Mr. Silverman said so eloquently last evening, if Ms. Oren and Ms. Murray have issues with the town, let them hire a lawyer and spend their time and money in pursuit of their claims – not Casco’s.

I’m not sure that you realize it Mr. Grant, but Town Manager Morton saved you and your associates from yourselves. Imagine the lawsuit that the town would have been saddled with had David Morton allowed your illegal executive session to proceed! As things stand, my thinking is that the town manager has a very strong defamation case against you, the board and the town.

Mr. Grant, don’t ever forget the reasoned and passionate voices raised in support of the town manager, and against your actions. Don’t ever forget how many people turned out to support David Morton, and voice their disdain for the actions of you and your allies.

There are now many, many more people paying very close attention, Mr. Grant. You and yours have become an embarrassment to our town. It is time to forgo your personal agenda and illegal machinations and turn to the legitimate business of Casco.

Ted Ropple is a resident of Casco. He invites discussion and comments on any of his columns at www.tedropple.com.