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Town officials in Townsend, Massachusetts scrambled to block journalists from recording a public meeting, despite knowing exactly who was coming and why. The heated confrontation reveals a troubling pattern of officials who rarely show up to work yet maintain tight control over public access.
The Forewarned Surprise
Josh from Accountability for All, who is running for selectman in Townsend, had notified town staff weeks in advance that journalist colleagues would attend the meeting to document his campaign speech. The officials knew these were experienced reporters who understand constitutional rights and wouldn't tolerate violations. Yet when the journalists arrived, staff immediately approached them claiming filming was illegal and demanding they sign visitor logs to remain in the public meeting space.
The next day, one town clerk attempted damage control, telling the journalists they were "caught off guard" by reporters attending. This was a direct contradiction to the advance notice they had received, exposing either deliberate deception or shocking incompetence in handling basic public meetings.
The Attorney Who Forgot the Constitution
Town Moderator John Barrett, who identified himself as an attorney, approached the journalists to explain the alleged filming restrictions. When questioned about his legal credentials, Barrett became defensive and accused the reporters of "trying to provoke" him, despite the fact that he had initiated the confrontation. His inability to cite any actual law prohibiting recording at public meetings raised questions about his understanding of First Amendment protections.
Barrett's reaction followed a familiar pattern: engage the journalists, make questionable legal claims, then accuse them of being provocative when asked to justify those claims.
Phantom Selectmen and Full-Time Secretaries
A follow-up investigation revealed an even more troubling reality about Townsend's government operations. The town employs two full-time secretaries at nearly $120,000 annually to support selectmen who rarely appear at their offices. According to staff, the elected officials sometimes go weeks or even months without coming to the building designated for conducting town business.
The selectmen are required to maintain regular office hours for constituent services and meet with state representatives, yet their own employees confirmed they "sporadically" appear and often conduct official business at private locations. This arrangement makes public records requests nearly impossible and potentially violates open meeting laws.
The Real Cost of Absent Leadership
Citizens pay substantial salaries for secretaries who admitted their bosses might not show up for months at a time. Meanwhile, when those same officials do appear for public meetings, they attempt to restrict constitutional rights and control media coverage. The contradiction is stark: absent when citizens need access, heavy-handed when citizens seek accountability.
The town's reaction suggests officials prefer operating in shadows rather than transparent governance. Their aggressive response to routine documentation of a public meeting hints at deeper concerns about scrutiny.
What Happened Next
The full confrontation captured on video shows exactly how far these officials were willing to go to control public access to their meeting. The complete exchange reveals whether the journalists complied with the alleged sign-in requirement and how the town ultimately responded to constitutional challenges.
Watch the complete footage to see how Townsend officials handled being held accountable for their claims about filming restrictions.
