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July 2, 2009

Council may launch own investigation into councilors' behavior

AG finds no criminal conduct by Chirchiello, Benson

By Julie Huss

DERRY — After the state attorney general's office reported no wrongdoing with a situation involving two Derry town councilors and their comments made about a local woman, another councilor wants to continue an investigation into the pair's behavior.

Councilor Janet Fairbanks said she wants to continue looking into the matter concerning fellow councilors Brad Benson and Brian Chirichiello and reports of bad behavior toward Derry resident Maureen Rose. Councilor Kevin Coyle agreed with Fairbanks and called for the investigation.

Rose had accused Chirichiello and Benson of misconduct following a conversation overheard prior to a council budget meeting on April 30, where Benson allegedly threatened to call Rose's employer to try and have her fired from her job because the woman had made strong opinions about the council's decision to do away with one of two public forums at meetings.

The incident made headlines and prompted a state investigation by the attorney general's public integrity office.

In an e-mail response to the Derry News, Derry town administrator Gary Stenhouse offered a portion of the AG findings sent to the town in a letter. The state reported no wrongdoing in the Benson/Chirichiello case.

"It is my understanding... the comments were not made in a public setting.... neither of them followed through by attempting to contact the employer...they attempted to make amends by apologizing....which she acknowledged in a prepared statement she read at a council meeting," the letter stated. "The facts provided do not establish a reasonable suspicion that a violation of any criminal statute has ocurred."

Even though the state found no criminal conduct, councilor Janet Fairbanks said at a recent meeting she hoped the council follow through with its own investigation. Others from the public also offered additional support for Rose and hoped the two councilors in question would be asked to step down.

"I am very disappointed," resident Howie Lund told the council earlier this month. "Stop waffling on the issue. Maureen Rose deserves no less."

Resident Al Dimmock added he wanted justice for Rose and felt the issue should not go away.

"Maureen deserves justice," he said, "and you people need to follow through in a just way."

Even though Fairbanks admitted she was not a witness to the original conversation between Benson and Chirichiello concerning Rose, she hoped the council would move forward with its own investigation on the conduct of two of its councilors.

She added the council should discuss the matter further at its July 14 meeting.

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