Opinion: Will the Select Board defend governance structure or enable its erosion?

To the Editor:

 

The recent behavior of Select Board member Shawn McDonald at the May 5th meeting, see Dartmouth TV’s broadcast of the meeting on YouTube, should deeply concern all Dartmouth residents who value accountable government. When McDonald publicly berated Finance Committee members for performing their legal duty to review budget items — declaring they had "overstepped their bounds" for simply fulfilling their statutory role — he demonstrated a troubling disregard for our town's system of checks and balances.

 

More alarming still was McDonald's response when challenged by fellow Select Board member David Tatelbaum: "I don't care what you think. ... If you don't like it, you can walk out the door." This dismissive intimidation, coupled with his threats of budget retaliation against the Finance Committee, reveals an official who views oversight as a personal affront rather than essential democratic governance.

 

The Select Board now faces a critical test: Will they defend our town's governance structure or enable its erosion? They must either censure McDonald, require a formal apology to the Finance Committee, or request his resignation. While it may seem awkward for the Board to discipline one of their own, failing to address this behavior effectively endorses the intimidation of oversight bodies performing their legal duties.

 

This isn't about personalities or politics — it's about preserving the accountability system that protects taxpayer interests. Town Meeting members and residents should demand the Select Board uphold the institutional integrity that makes local democracy function. Anything less signals that in Dartmouth, those entrusted with power need not respect the very governance structure they've sworn to uphold.

 

Brian R. O’Hare

Dartmouth Finance Committee member​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​