TRURO — The select board’s review of Town Manager Darrin Tangeman’s performance in June became a heated dispute — which only intensified when the board’s vice chair, Sue Areson, was accused of having violated the town’s charter while investigating the town manager.
The board’s vote to investigate Areson has led to a GoFundMe campaign organized by Stephen Briscoe, owner of SeasCape Realty, to “help defray Sue Areson’s unexpected legal costs.” The official goal is $15,000.
“That was my number based on a conversation with my lawyer, but it is admittedly high,” Areson said Tuesday. So far, she said, she has paid two lawyers: Bruce Bierhans of Hyannis for a consultation and William Henchy of Orleans, whom she has retained.
Areson would not say what her legal costs had been to date.
The select board voted 3-2 in June to look into three alleged charter violations, all having to do with Areson investigating Tangeman on her own, without authorization, and bypassing him in communications with town staff.
As of Sept. 5, Briscoe’s campaign had raised $5,500. But $2,100 of that is from 14 anonymous donations, which, according to the state’s Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), are not allowed.
“Political committees, including legal defense funds, may not keep anonymous contributions,” said Jason Tait, education and communications director at OCPF.
According to GoFundMe’s online “help center,” both the organizer and the beneficiary of a fundraiser should be able to see the names of anonymous donors. But Areson, the campaign’s beneficiary, said she can’t see the anonymous names.
“I’m not sure that anonymous contributions can be accepted,” Areson said on Sept. 5. “So, it will be up to [Briscoe] to contact any anonymous donors to see what their preference is.”
A paragraph has now been added to the campaign page to alert donors that anonymous contributions are not allowed.
According to the state’s electioneering laws, “Legal defense funds may be used to defend against a criminal matter or to pay costs associated with a civil matter if the criminal or civil or administrative matter is not primarily personal in nature.”
Such funds may also be set up on behalf of a candidate, as Areson’s was: “Stephen Briscoe came to me and said he wanted to do that, and I said it was a lovely gesture,” Areson said.
The outside investigation of Areson’s actions has been underway for about a month. Select board chair Kristen Reed told the Independent on Sept. 5 that there were no updates on its progress.
