Dalton Fire District Tries to Clarify Prudential Committee Role

DALTON, Mass. — Prudential Committee Chair Daniel Filiault straight off clarified at Tuesday morning's meeting that the board would not be discussing a requested forensic audit requested by Fire Chief Christian Tobin. 

Tobin was suspended earlier this month over allegations of sexual harassment, grant overspending, and "employee concerns."

The agenda posted on Aug. 15 included two items: general business and a discussion of the duties of the Water Commissioners and Prudential Committee. A number of residents attended the 10 a.m. meeting at the Stationery Factory, some voicing a need for better transparency.

When asked if there will be an opportunity for the public to hear decision-making on the audit, Filiault  said it would be up to the Water Commissioners and it is not a part of what the Prudential Committee does.

Tobin has accused the commissioners of illegal wages and hour practices, unlawful public meetings, improper safety practices, employee medical and respiratory protection, the misuse of district credit card funds, falsification of records for personal or others' benefit, and other allegations.

"This meeting is solely for the purpose of discussing the duties of the Water Commission and the Prudential Commission and how we interact," Filiault said, adding that there was a Monday email sent out "full of inaccuracies" that included discussion of the forensic audit.

"The forensic audit, that is not a subject that is being discussed today. It was not on the agenda. It will not be discussed."

Resident Don Davis was "very confused about a lot of things," including the duties of the committee.

"I appreciate what everybody's done over all the years and everything but it seems like over the last few years, there's definitely some sort of a problem within the district," he said.

"And I think that we as citizens really need to understand there's a lot of very alarming issues that the citizens really should know about and understand it's kind of a status quo."

According to the bylaw:

"The Prudential Committee shall collect (through the Treasurer's Office), have charge of and expend, according to the order of the District, all moneys raised by taxation; shall, subject to the order and approval of the District purchase and sell real estate; and shall approve or disapprove the items in the budget submitted to it by the Board of Water Commissioners and authorize the expenditure of the amounts therein set forth as approved by it. It may authorize the Treasurer to expend the money of the District in accordance with and subject to the approval of the District, or in accordance with and up to the limits set by the budget previously approved by it and may authorize the Treasurer to borrow money in anticipation of fees to be received on account of the use of water supplied by the District."

The meeting was called after discussions with Board of Water Commissioners Chair James Driscoll. He explained on Tuesday that this aims to ensure that the interaction between the two bodies is workable and will be able to get things done.

"And we just wanted to have this meeting to determine what core parts of this that the Prudential Committee would like to do or would like to leave as it has been," Driscoll said.

"Prudential Committee, historically, has passed the budgets that the Water Commissioners have set up through the department heads, and they are briefed on the budget, and then they okay the budget, and that is the budget that goes to the voters," he said.

"They have been instrumental in looking at any of the financial situations with the district, as far as loans, things like that, is part of what we have our meetings with the Prudential Committee for so that being said, all we wanted to do is get together and make sure that we're both on the same plane."

Filiault noted that a similar meeting has been held in the past and it is "not an unusual act." He feels "very fortunate" to have two longtime members of the committee present who can attest to how it is run: Thomas Murray and Richard Olsted.

In Murray's opinion, the bylaws determine that the water commissioners are in charge of day-to-day operations and come to the committee for finances. .

"My understanding is that it has always been very clear: except for financial questions, the Prudential Commission does not get involved in the day-to-day operations of the Fire District," Filiault said, explaining that he has stepped up to help with issues over the past year as an individual and was not acting a member of the commission.

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