Letter: McDowell defends her call for process change | EastBayRI.com - News, Opinion, Things to Do in the East Bay

To the editor: At the August 11th town council meeting, passionate debates arose over the agenda items submitted by Ms. McDowell. The initial item pertained to the process for the anticipated school bond. It is important to note that she is not against the bond project per se, but rather the manner in which it's being handled. At the April 13th council meeting, council members were asked to endorse a "memorialization" to allow the bond process to continue.

The town administrator and council president assured them that this was not a commitment to a specific bond amount or particular projects. The council president further clarified that projects could be adjusted before the vote. When a citizen asked when the council would definitively commit to the bond, they were told it would be sometime between June and July, as the final vote had to reach the canvassing office by August 1st.

The process did not proceed as expected. Ms. McDowell questioned this deviation and believes citizens should understand the process behind significant financial commitments like a school bond. She asserts that transparency is crucial when dealing with such a substantial financial decision. The other agenda items discussed the appointment of a new finance director.

A new hire was made shortly after the resignation of the incumbent. When Ms. McDowell requested a resolution allowing two council members to observe the interview process, she was informed that an offer had already been made to a candidate. This raised concerns about the process, citing the Town Charter and the principle of non-interference.

Despite this, the outgoing finance director was chosen through a collaborative process involving multiple steps, a model used in many municipalities. Ms. McDowell also pointed out that the new hire's financial audits in 2024 and 2025 revealed significant deficiencies, which she attributes to understaffing. She urges Portsmouth residents to review these audits to gain a better understanding of her position.

This debate is not about personal conflicts or political disagreements, but rather about process, transparency, accountability, and safeguarding the financial interests of Portsmouth taxpayers.