Selectmen will be reviewing investigative material before voting on reimbursing former Selectman Leroy Scott's legal fees.
Scott, 77, has requested that the town fully reimburse all legal fees associated with the misdemeanor stalking charge that he was acquitted of last month.
Former town bookkeeper Carol Sheehan had filed complaints against Scott based on two 2006 incidents.
Scott claims that he was acting as a town official at the time of at least one incident, making it appropriate for the town to cover his legal bill.
At the board's March 13 meeting, Selectman Jack Cannon said he was hesitant to approve $3,000 for Scott's legal fees, recommending instead a partial reimbursement of $1,000.
"Both parties continued a pattern of disrespectful behavior ... (Scott) is required to hold himself to a higher standard as a town official," Cannon said. "A full reimbursement endorses such behavior."
The town of Chester has already paid approximately $2,000 of Scott's legal bills after he was charged in 2005 with stalking town Highway Department employees.
Scott had also been warned prior to the second set of stalking charges. A letter was issued by fellow members of the Board of Selectmen to Scott. The notice warned Scott to be prepared to defend himself against further charges. The letter specifically stated that "any damages you may have to pay yourself."
Weider disagreed with Cannon, citing the insecurity town officials would feel without legal protection.
"As elected officials we can be charged at any time individually for what we should be doing," Weider said. "I think the board would want to be protected guilty or not guilty."
Weider said he agreed with Scott, when the former selectmen said it would be foolish for the town to believe that people will "stick their neck in a noose," and run for office if they are at risk of legal action and are unprotected by the town.
"I can't understand indemnifying someone who made a personal mistake," Selectman Mark Harris said.
Harris said the actions were "personal" and that Scott had control over them.
The board voted to table the discussion on the legal fees until its March 27 meeting.
The legal fees totalling $2,000 for Scott's son, Kevin Scott, were not discussed despite being included in Scott's formal request for reimbursement. Kevin Scott had been charged with following Sheehan's car too closely. Those charges were later dismissed.
