Local News
A small Massachusetts town on the New Hampshire border will hold a special election this weekend to switch two of its three electors — one who left amid sexual harassment allegations and one other who said he was from one Local citizen journalists were targeted.
Charles Sexton-Diranian resigned from the Townsend Board of Selectmen in early September after losing his consultant license from the Department of Health, in accordance with documents obtained by Boston.com.
Incumbent Chairman Joe Shank later resigned in September, leaving town with only one voter and apparently bringing the board's operations to a halt. There has not been a board meeting in town since calendar and no meetings were posted to YouTube channel.
Townsend is holding a special election Saturday to almost completely replace town's leadership. Theresa Morse is the one remaining board member. She didn’t reply to multiple requests for comment.
Townsend voter resigns after allegations of “inappropriate sexual behavior.”
Sexton-Diranian, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, worked as program director at Crozier House in Worcester from 2022 until March of this 12 months. He was fired after an internal investigation confirmed “multiple reports from residents and staff of inappropriate sexual behavior, sexual harassment, abuse, bullying and intimidation” by Sexton-Diranian, in accordance with the DPH Bureau of Substance Addiction Services.
Residents of the house, an inpatient substance abuse treatment program for men, reported multiple instances of sexual comments and touching. One resident said Sexton-Diranian gave him “the option of engaging in sexual touching or being removed from the program,” the DPH report said.
Sexton-Diranian also ordered staff to strip-search a client for drugs. Employees “stated that they did not believe the strip search was appropriate but did not report the incident for fear of retaliation from him,” the report said. He allegedly touched a resident's buttocks during a protracted hug, put his arm around staff members, sat too near residents on a couch and called staff and residents “sexy” or “handsome.”
He would also tell employees that he could read their emails, particularly when reporting his behavior, the report said.
Sexton-Diranian didn’t reply to a request for comment. A city spokesman said after his Sept. 5 resignation that the matter was “a personal matter that (Sexton-Diranian) is dealing with and with which the city has no intention of becoming involved.”
First, Cindy King, a former Townsend selectman reported on the allegations against Sexton-Diranian in an hour-long YouTube video posted in late August. She appeared to read from public DPH data and likewise accused Sexton-Diranian of voter fraud.
“It has everything to do with his position in the city because this is about power and control,” King said in a single video. She called Sexton-Diranian “a sexual predator.”
Second board member resigns: “It’s not worth it for me or my family”
Less than a month after Sexton-Diranian, Shank resigned from his board position. He told Boston.com that after about five many years of volunteer work in Townsend, he felt he needed to step away.
“The constant criticism, complaining and false accusations from members of the community, many of whom do not bother to attend or participate in a meeting or offer productive solutions, have made it not worth it for me or my family to take on this position. Shank said during his resignation speech, which was met with applause.
After mentioning a “productive solution,” Shank turned and glared at King, who was filming for her YouTube channel, “Reel Deal Around Town,” according to a video she posted.
According to court documents, King was convicted of domestic violence and witness intimidation involving her ex-wife during her time on the board.
At the time of the attack she threatened police, saying: “I'm on the Board of Selectman, just wait until Monday and you'll regret it.”
She has been running her channel for seven months, filming local Townsend meetings, calling local officials and discussing local issues. She advocates one five-member Board of Selectmen in one video and in another she Movies Shank before a meeting under their First Amendment rights. Also king criticized the city for failing to record a board meeting in May due to internet problems.
Shank spoke out against King and her channel, saying that her video camera was always in his face during meetings.
“Think about how much abuse you would endure in your own job before you say enough is enough,” Shank told Boston.com.
He didn’t comment on the allegations against Sexton-Diranian, but blamed King for each resignations.
“It influenced my resignation because of this bad behavior,” Shank said. “Cindy King and certain people created such a hostile environment for him that there is no way I would ever put my family in danger to endure something like that.”
Now each Shank and Sexton-Diranian's spots can be found. The The ballot paper for Saturday's election includes the 2 seats, one with a term until 2026 and the opposite with a term until 2027.
image credit : www.boston.com