To the Editor:

Here’s my take on Select Board member Shawn McDonald’s apology.

What he actually apologized for:
McDonald offered an extremely limited apology for his "tone," "verbiage," and "demeanor" — essentially apologizing only for “how” he said things, not “what” he said or did. This is a classic non-apology that avoids addressing the substantive issues.

What he refused to apologize for:
His explicit statement "I will not apologize for anything else" and "I will not apologize for the content" means he stands by:
- His false claim that the Finance Committee "overstepped their bounds"
- His threats of budget retaliation against the Finance Committee
- His dismissive treatment of fellow board members ("I don't care what you think")
- His fundamental misunderstanding of the Finance Committee's statutory role

Doubling down on the core problem:
Rather than acknowledging his mischaracterization of the Finance Committee's authority, McDonald actually reinforced it by calling their actions "almost sabotaging" and suggesting they had no right to reduce the line item — precisely the same misunderstanding that caused the original problem.

Missing elements of a genuine apology:
- Acknowledgment that the Finance Committee was acting within their legal authority
- Recognition that his threats and intimidation were inappropriate
- Commitment to respect the roles of other town bodies going forward
- Direct apology to the Finance Committee members he berated

The telling details:
The fact that McDonald "abstained" from voting on the motion requesting his apology speaks volumes about his attitude. His claim to be "more than familiar with the code of conduct" as its "primary author" makes his behavior even more troubling, not less.

This apology appears to be damage control rather than genuine contrition — offering the minimum necessary to quiet criticism while maintaining his original position that his conduct was justified. It does nothing to address the fundamental governance concerns his behavior raised.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Brian R O’Hare
Member, Finance Committee