Warner selectman Michael Smith was charged with tampering with public records after he replaced a document in a locked file cabinet in Town Hall last July, police said.
Smith turned himself in last week on charges of “knowingly mak[ing] a false alteration to a document kept by the government for record, by removing writing and replacing said document with an altered copy,” according to the complaint.
On July 23, Smith wrote “NO F—ING WAY” on the town’s check manifest related to a request to take money from the transfer station reserve fund to pay for an invoice. In place of his signature, he wrote, “FU,” according to police records.
Security camera footage showed Smith inside of town hall removing the original document from a folder and replacing it between 4:49 a.m. and 5:11 a.m., according to the probable cause statement filed in court by the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Department.
He is set to appear in Hillsborough District Court on April 7 at 8:15 a.m.
Other town officials have also been mired in legal controversy. Town Administrator Kathleen Frenette was put on paid administrative leave July 31 pending a criminal investigation. The status of the investigation could not be confirmed at the time of publication.
During a Tuesday select board meeting — the first meeting with new member Richard Bixby Jr. who replaced Harry Seidel — Warner residents discussed Frenette’s seven-month absence.
“What we’re urging you all to do is to return that one person who has been punished back to active service,” resident James Gaffney said. “We’re urging you to return Kathy Frenette back to service.”
Resident Steve Hall asked the board about Frenette’s employment status, as “we’re paying her salary, and we’re not getting any benefit out of this.” Selectman Alfred Hanson — who was confirmed as the new chair that same meeting — told Hall that he cannot provide an answer.
“There’s no reason why we couldn’t vote to bring her back right now,” Smith said.
Smith did not address the charges against him at the public meeting, nor were they discussed by other board members or residents.
Hanson said the board met with town counsel previously and wouldn’t discuss anything about Frenette further.
“Since this is a new board, I think it’s very appropriate that the three of you have time to discuss this,” resident Sara McNeil said during the meeting. “People are concerned about the issue with Kathy. I know I am. … We’re not receiving anything and it needs to be resolved.”