Pepperell Selectmen Vote to Send Ferralito Conduct Complaint to State Ethics Commission

PEPPERELL — February 26, 2018 — Pepperell selectmen voted 2-1 Monday to refer a complaint against Selectman Lisa Ferralito to the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission after an independent investigator found she likely disclosed confidential personnel information to a member of the public. Independent investigator Robert J. Hennigan Jr. of Worcester presented two written reports in open session, finding that Ferralito had violated the town's 2017 harassment policy by persistently questioning Town Treasurer-Collector Debbie Nutter's office closure to Town Administrator Mark Andrews, and that evidence "strongly suggests" Ferralito disclosed the contents of Nutter's complaint to community member Caroline Reed Adab, who then posted the details to a Facebook group with more than 3,000 members. Ferralito voted no on both the Ethics Commission referral and a separate 2-1 vote to begin drafting a code of conduct for the board, arguing her actions were protected First Amendment activity and that the town's harassment policy does not apply to elected officials. The board also unanimously appointed attorney John M. Flick of the Flick Law Group in Gardner as investigator for a newly filed employee complaint against Ferralito.