Michaud hurls accusations against town supervisor

NORTH EAST — Sometimes the most compelling part of a Town Board meeting is the public comments, when members of the community have a chance to stand up and speak about what’s on their minds. Such was the case at the North East Town Board’s meeting on Thursday, Sept. 8.Resident Pamela Michaud stood and addressed the board with comments, some of which perhaps would have been more appropriately addressed to the chairman of the North East Democratic Party. Nonetheless, the board allowed her to proceed with her full statement.She began dramatically.“In a shameful miscarriage of democracy, an element within the Democratic Party of the town of North East chose on caucus day to cross-endorse an incumbent Republican … when they could have chosen an honest, capable and popular Democrat with broad community support,” she said.Nine-term incumbent Dave Sherman is entering the November election season with endorsements from both the Republican and Democratic parties; he is a registered Republican.Michaud went on to say that Sherman has “failed miserably,” and should and will be replaced by his opponent, John Merwin.Merwin lost the Democratic party’s nomination at the caucus, but he will be running as an Independent come November, under the North East United Party. Michaud is a member of that party.“She’s not coming in as an independent citizen anymore,” said Sherman about Michaud’s tactics, “but now she’s coming in as someone aligned to John Merwin’s campaign.”Michaud then jumped subjects and stated Sherman is known for his fiscal responsibility, which she then proceeded to question.She asked the following questions:“Are all records pertaining to town of North East financial matters held, in their entirety, in the Town Hall?“Are all of these records made available to all councilmen and to the public?“Can I come into this building on Monday and see all of the records?“If not, why not?“And will the board correct the situation?”She then encouraged board members to speak out if they had any issues. None did. She ended her statement with the words, “I do not raise this matter to encourage controversy,” and asked for her letter to be entered into the record.Though the meeting continued, moments later Councilman Steve Merwin asked Michaud if she wanted immediate answers; she said she did. Sherman willingly obliged.“Records we have; vouchers are stored downstairs in the records room,” he said. “[Our financial records] are here in one fashion or another in this Town Hall.”Michaud asked if a member of the public can review those records.“Things that relate to personnel records, employees’ health — those are limited,” Sherman said. “But anything that’s a financial record you could come in and see.”He added the town clerk purges records periodically according to a schedule she sets, though there are some items that are permanent records.“If the board members feel they have access to all financial records and that I have access, then that’s all I have questions about,” Michaud said.“If we had a request for anything, we got that information to board members,” Sherman said. “Or if people made requests to the clerk’s office, all those have been satisfied, but there have been very few. I think it’s trying to create an issue out of thin air.”