The Select Board has moved to have the State Ethics Commission investigate reported leaks during negotiations in a $4 million lawsuit by the former police chief.

Town Administrator David Cressman disclosed that three leaks had occurred during the negotiation process, something he said he's never seen before while working in local government.

The first time, the results of the negotiations had been published to a social media site before the Select Board had signed off on the $658,000 settlement. That post has since been deleted, said board members.

The second leak involved a Selectman releasing executive session minutes before the board decided to make them public. The third leak involved the case mediator and plaintiff knowing the maximum settlement that Cressman was allowed to move forward with while negotiations were ongoing.

"It's shameful. That person failed the town, him or herself, that person's family, and to this board, it's a slap in the face," said board Chair Stanley Mickelson.

While Selectman John Haran admitted to releasing session minutes prematurely due to misunderstanding the procedure, he said he was uninvolved with the social media posts and lawyers. The board voted to follow up on the other leaks with an investigation.

"The matter wasn't finished. It wasn't signed," said Selectman Shawn McDonald.

It is currently unclear how heavily the negotiations were affected by the leaks, but officials said it could have cost the town upwards of $600,000 in lawyer fees.