Belmont selectmen mix it up over welfare department

BELMONT - It was two against one at last night's Selectman's meeting when Selectman David Morse proposed that he personally review the town's Welfare Office operations, including the names of the individuals getting town assistance.

Morse, who has been reviewing the operations of all of the town's individual departments to get a better understanding of how each operates, said the names of the recipients have an effect on his understanding.

"I'm not comfortable letting you review the names," said Chair Ron Cormier. "The names don't affect the discussion."

"Why is this such a protective event?" asked Morse saying he is not trying to "micro-manage" the welfare office and was offended at Cormier's inference.

"My concern is that you are looking for problems with individuals," Cormier said.

"Not true," replied Morse immediately. "I don't need to be hog-tied when I go through the files."

"If there's a specific issue we would meet in a non-public session to discuss it," Cormier replied, his face reddening.

"I don't see the need to be overprotective," said Morse his voice rising. "There is a confidentiality inherent a being a selectman."

"As a board, not as an individual," Cormier said.

When Morse said Cormier should join him in the review, Cormier said he didn't feel he needed to. Pike interjected that if Morse wanted to review the department, he could do it without the names of the individuals.

Morse's argument was that the role of alms giver has traditionally been one belonging to selectmen and the only difference now is that a paid welfare officer does the job.

New Hampshire RSA 165 governs the distribution of welfare and ceded to the individual communities the right to administer their own offices within state and federal law.

When contacted after the meeting, Welfare Officer Donna Cilley, who had attended the selectmen's meeting but left before this discussion, said she administers her office according to the guidelines set by the federal, state and local government.

"As a Board, if they wish to discuss a case, I'm more than happy to meet with them," Cilley said adding that she believes her clients names are protected in the same way certain police files are protected.

RSA 165:2-c also provides for the confidentiality of welfare recipients but is vague on the specifics.

"...No town, city or county official shall publish or disclose or allow to be published or disclosed in the annual report of the town, city or county, or any other document or letter, except as is necessary for and connected with the administration of this chapter, the name, address or any other identifying information of any recipient who is receiving assistant or aid..." reads the clause.

It also provides taxpayers can review the type and amount of aid and proscribes penalties if confidentiality is breached.

What RSA 165 doesn't appear to do is define an individual selectman's role in the administration of welfare.

The discussion ended when Cormier told Morse he could review the information if he wanted to but he had better not hear one word about any of it "outside."

Morse said his whole profession [he is an accountant] is based on protecting confidentiality and that he didn't want to be threatened.

"If something gets out. . . " Cormier began his voice trailing off. "Go see what you need to see."

"Okay," said Morse.

No formal vote was taken.

Cilley said she would never expect one selectman to come into her office and review her files and said she really didn't know how to react to Morse's viewpoint until she reviewed the minutes and the applicable laws and regulations.

She added that her real concern would be that if people thought their information wasn't protected then those who need some help, especially in these difficult economic times, would be reluctant to come to her office.