Whitman Town Clerk Posts Officials' Personal Information Online, Sparking Privacy Concerns
Select Board and Finance Committee members' phone numbers were published on town website in a statement before being removed following complaints and legal concerns.
WHITMAN - July 8 - The Whitman Town Clerk published personal phone numbers of Select Board and Finance Committee members on the town website last week, prompting criticism from officials and raising concerns about the impact on volunteer participation in local government.
The incident came to light during the July 8 Select Board meeting when Ryan Tressel, Chair of the Community Preservation Committee, addressed the board during public forum. Tressel called the action "unacceptable" and expressed concern it could discourage residents from volunteering for town positions.
"I thought that the choice to put public, the private home and cell phone numbers on the website, while obviously very, I'm sure, annoying for you guys, I think it's damaging overall for our town," Tressel said. "I think all of us probably here know multiple people in town who are smart and dedicated and care about this town."
Select Board Chair Carl Kowalski, who was out of town when the incident occurred, called the action "reprehensible" and "probably illegal."
"It's hard to imagine what my response was to that. I don't think I threw things across the room, but I thought that doing that was reprehensible," Kowalski said. "If it isn't doxxing, it's really close because it was sort of threatening the people who make those decisions with getting a lot of attention on their own personal phones that they didn't need to get."
Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter said she contacted the Town Clerk requesting removal of the information after discovering it on the website. When the Clerk initially refused, citing that it was "public information," Carter obtained guidance from town counsel confirming the posting was inappropriate.
"I said, please take it down. Don't be difficult. That's private information," Carter said. "And she said, get me something from counsel, which had come in that morning."
Carter gave the clerk one hour to remove the information, but when it remained posted after an hour and a half, the town's IT department removed it.
The incident also involved an attempt to have the information published in the Whitman-Hanson Express newspaper. Carter contacted the paper's editor requesting that the personal information not be published, and the newspaper complied.
Select Board member Laura Howe emphasized the importance of moving forward constructively while acknowledging the Clerk's contributions to the town.
"She's done a lot of good for the town. And she's worked here a long time. And I know she loves the town," Howe said. "But what matters here on out is going forward."
The controversy highlights ongoing challenges with volunteer recruitment for town positions. Tressel noted that multiple town boards and committees have vacancies that have remained unfilled for extended periods.
In other business, the Select Board appointed Debra Ó Broin as Temporary Treasurer-Collector, pending successful contract negotiations. Ó Broin will serve until the next Annual Town Election in May and plans to run for the elected position.
Ó Broin brings over 20 years of experience from State Street, where she was promoted to several different positions throughout her career. Carter praised Ó Broin’s qualifications, noting her "strong financial and analytical skills, as well as strong customer service skills."
The appointment became necessary after Sharon LoPiccolo, who had served as Temporary Treasurer-Collector since November 2024, decided to return to her previous position as Assistant Treasurer-Collector. The town hall union had voted not to reserve LoPiccolo's right to return to the assistant position for another year, prompting her decision.
"I just want to thank Sharon for stepping up as the Temporary Treasurer-Collector for the town. She has done a wonderful job in this very important role," Carter said.
The board also appointed Jim Ewell as Conditional Building Commissioner and Zoning Enforcement Officer. Ewell, who has served as Assistant Building Inspector since 2019, brings 30 years of construction supervisor experience and has operated his own business, Ewell Construction, for over 25 years.
Ewell will work early morning hours from 7:30 to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday, plus afternoon hours to accommodate contractors who prefer early access for inspections.
"I think that the contractors really like that, that they're able to get in early," Carter said. "I've heard a lot of positive feedback that they can get in early and get that taken care of and get on to their jobs."
The board approved a rate increase for Assistant Building Inspector Tom Ruble, who also serves as Certified Building Commissioner for Rockland. Ruble's inspection rate was increased to $50 per inspection, and he will assist with permits and inspections during the transition period, working approximately 10-12 hours per week.
The board scheduled its next meeting for Aug. 19 and discussed plans for a joint meeting with the Finance Committee in September to review lessons learned from this year's budget process.
Disclosure: South Shore News founder Justin Evans is a current member of the Whitman Select Board.