PARIS — Selectman Ted Kurtz called for an end to “negative energy” among the board Monday, and for a public discussion about what information is available to the board and to the public.

His comments came even as members of the public criticized Town Manager Phil Tarr’s, who was absent due to an unspecified medical problem and therefore unable to reply to criticism of his job performance.

In a written statement, Kurtz said he wanted a discussion with the board and town manager on two topics: the accuracy and completeness with which matters are presented to the board, and the relationship between town employees and the board as it pertains to the exchange of information.

“There have been communications between board members and town employees, some initiated by one side and some by the other, about town affairs,” Kurtz said. “Is openness in this regard or is silence in this regard in the best interest of the town? Are some things off limits? We need to set the rules.”

Kurtz said he hoped for a discussion on the matter in the near future.

He expressed interest in exploring a third issue in response to a complaint from Barbara Payne of the Budget Committee on the town’s response to requests for legal opinions on topics pertinent to the town.

Payne said she made a request to Tarr for a written copy of a legal opinion he received from the Maine Municipal Association concerning employee bonuses. At the Nov. 8 board meeting, Tarr said he spoke with a lawyer from the Maine Municipal Association on whether bonuses for Norway-Paris Solid Waste employees were legal.

He said the lawyer told him that the bonuses could be considered part of employee compensation. At the meeting, however, Selectman Lloyd “Skip”  Herrick said that during his previous time as a sheriff, he had been told buying turkeys for employees with public money was illegal.

The issue is muddled by the waste corporation’s status as a private entity funded by public money.

Payne said on Nov. 9, she requested a written copy of the lawyer’s opinion from Tarr. She said her request had never been acknowledged or answered.

During public comments, Janet Jamison, a former NPSW board member, expressed concerns about Tarr’s job performance and his honesty. “I believe that Mr. Tarr will say anything for political expediency,” Jamison said.

“I have been informed that now, we can’t ask questions of anyone in the town office. We have to go through him,” Jamison said. “If everything’s on the up and up, I should be able to talk to anybody — any employee of the town.”

She also cited a Dec. 29 story in the Morning Sentinel newspaper in Waterville about Skowhegan, where Tarr formerly served as town manager.

According to the story, money from the Urban Rural Initiative Program, earmarked for road repairs, was instead allocated to general revenue in Skowhegan during Tarr’s time as town manager. Skowhegan Town Manager John Doucette Jr. told the Morning Sentinel that in 2005 or 2006, the grant was moved from the reserve account to general revenue.

Jamison said Paris funds could be mismanaged by Tarr.

The board will meet again Jan. 10.

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