HARRISON — In what is now routine, Harrison’s December selectmen’s meeting was dominated by disruptive behavior, with accusations against elected officials, Town Manager Cass Newell and even town employees.

The latest tactic against Newell is a “no confidence” petition that, as of Dec. 20, had not been submitted to the town.

The Advertiser Democrat has not viewed an official copy of the petition. On Dec. 3, part time resident Peter Brown posted a screenshot of it on Facebook; about a week later he posted that he was not the author.

The petition accuses Newell of violating state law regarding annual audits conducted in 2022 and 2023, that the select board has refused to release to the public.

It blames Newell for selling town equipment without following proper public auction procedures.

It claims that public works employees plow her residence using town equipment.

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During Dec. 12’s Select Board meeting, Chairman Matt Frank addressed the content of the petition without acknowledging the petition itself.

A Facebook screenshot of a petition against Harrison Town Manager Cass Newell.

Frank told residents calling for release of the audits’ findings that it is by his direction that parts of the audit have remained under wraps. He pointed out that some information has been published on Harrison’s website but other data cannot be released at this time.

He assured the crowd gathered in the town office meeting room that everything was found to be in order and there were no financial discrepancies.

Frank and Newell explained that two public works trucks had been sold by the Select Board, not Newell.

The trucks were posted for sale by bid, but the only offer received came in under the required minimum amount. A second request for bids was advertised with the same result. At that point Newell reached out Maine Municipal Association for guidance on dispersing the trucks and was advised since auction procedure had been followed the town could sell them to the one bidder.

Frank stated in clear language that Newell does not have the authority to sell equipment and that it was a Select Board decision, adding that selling them for less saved the town money, as funds were being expended to pay insurance on vehicles not in service.

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In answer to the accusation that Newell has municipal employees on the clock using equipment to plow her driveway, she countered that it is untrue.

During a snowstorm on Thanksgiving, a town plow truck broke her mailbox post. The crew pulled the mailbox and post, moved the snow where it had been and reset it in a five-gallon bucket of sand.

She said she has never used town services personally, and that the Public Services’ employees were surprised to learn they were accused of using town equipment inappropriately.

Other rumors spiraling through Harrison recently are that the general contractor who build the new public works garage, Sheridan Construction, is suing the town for nonpayment, and that the town owes a local company, Black Bear Mobile Maintenance, money for unpaid services.

Frank announced that Harrison has withheld one $5,000 payment from the $3 million project because there are some things that have not been completed yet, including a sign for the garage and issues with two of the garage bays (a third has been damaged and also needs repair).

In regard to Black Bear, Frank said Harrison has not done business with the company since 2021, before Newell became town manager, and has no outstanding bills.

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Frank was also the target of townspeople’s ire. During public comment, he and former Select Board Chairman Rick Sykes argued about Sykes asserting lack of transparency surrounding Newell’s employment contract to the point the Frank cut him off by pounding the gavel and telling him to sit down.

Harrison resident and former Select Board Chair Rick Sykes, right, cedes the podium to Mike Garvey, left, during Harrison’s Dec. 12 public comment period of the selectmen’s meeting. Sykes had been told to cease talking and sit down to let others speak.

Once Sykes vacated the speaking podium, another resident, Mike Garvey, stood to inquire about the two financial audits. But first he was shouted down by a distraught Newell, who ended up leaving the room for a period.

Garvey advised Frank that he will file Freedom of Access Act requests to have the audit findings released. He also said he had called CPA firm RHR Smith & Company about one audit and was given information about the other – one that RHR Smith had not conducted.

“Why can Smith have that information but we can’t?” Garvey asked.

The shouting match continued after Newell returned and revealed details about injuries she sustained while serving in the U.S. Navy that affect her ability to work a standard workday schedule.

Her flexible schedule has resulted in accusations she does not do her job, being stalked at her home and watched when she and other employees work after the town office closes for business.

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At that point of the meeting a resident attending the meeting, Brian Spaulding, shouted at Frank, asking what Harrison is doing to ensure Newell’s safety and refused to be dismissed. He then asked Newell directly if she is afraid for her safety, which she answered affirmatively.

While angry taxpayers have seemingly fixated on Newell in their complaints and actions about anything they currently have an issue with, hostile behavior toward Harrison town employees precedes her tenure as town manager.

Back in 2020 three men entered the town office with video cameras and firearms asking to speak with the previous town manager, Tim Pellerin, and engaging with other employees at their jobs. They eventually got into a physical confrontation with Harrison Fire Chief Dana Laplante and refused to leave the building.

Former Portland Press Herald Columnist Bill Nemitz wrote about the exchange, which included the Bridgton Police Department and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

The story included a link of the video on YouTube, which has since been replaced with the following message: “This video has been removed for violating YouTube’s Terms of Service.”

However, the video is still available on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=539071627795781.

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