Former Town Administrator Criticizes Secrecy Around Investigation

A former employee of the Town of Amherst said that he is dissapointed in the "lack of free-flowing information” from the local government, according to the Nashua Telegraph.

Former Amherst town administrator Gary MacGuire said that the secrecy surrounding the current administrator's paid leave over a dump truck purchase would never happen under his watch.

Selectmen have been the target of criticism from the public and the press for their silence during Jim O'Mara's month-long leave. No answers were given as citizens wondered why their town administrator was not in town hall.

The leave was related to an investigation into a $150,000 dump truck purchase, which was made before the finalization of a lease purchase agreement. The agreement fell through because the town is in a default budget, leaving the board with a hefty bill to pay.

The investigation went on longer than the board had intended with a $12,000 price tag. Selectmen explained what had happened after O'Mara's return in January, but many were put off by the lack of answers during the process.

In his letter to the editor, the now-retired MacGuire supported selectman candidate Marilyn Peterman to restore transparency and trust in government.

Read more on The Nashua Telegraph.