01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, November 13, 2007

MAGEAU

CHARLESTOWN — An Open Meetings Law complaint has been filed by Town Councilman James M. Mageau against the council president and vice president, alleging that the two discussed or authorized discussion of items that had been improperly advertised.

In an Oct. 29 complaint to Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, Mageau asserts that Council President Katharine H. Waterman added three items to the Oct. 9 agenda that in effect were “nothing more than a personal attack on” the job performance of Town Administrator Edward M. Barrett.

“Not only did the posted agenda violate the state’s Open Meeting Act because of insufficient and misleading notice, it also violated the ‘act’ because Mrs. Waterman’s remarks should have been posted on the agenda pursuant to ‘personnel — job performance,’ ” Mageau wrote.

Mageau also accused council Vice President Harriett A. Allen of violating the meetings law when she “joined in on the unbridled attack.”

Mageau also charged that the Oct. 9 agenda — set by Waterman, Barrett, and Town Clerk Jodi LaCroix — improperly listed resident Daniel Slattery under persons wishing to be heard on “political partnerships.”

In fact, Mageau claimed, “Slattery’s remarks were intended to impugn the integrity and credibility of the complainant [Mageau].”

Mageau accused Waterman of allowing a personal attack against him to proceed by exercising her power as council president.

Draft minutes of the meeting show that Mageau objected to Slattery’s comments.

“Mrs. Waterman stated Mr. Slattery had the floor,” the minutes indicate, noting Waterman then called for a five-minute break.

In his complaint, Mageau also says that the inclusion of Barrett’s job performance to the Oct. 18 special council meeting agenda further showed that Waterman and Allen were part of a plan “hatched to terminate Mr. Barrett.”

A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office could not be reached for comment on whether the office had found merit to the complaint.

Allen denied any violation.

Waterman could not be reached for comment.