We can’t help but notice that brief and former Selectman Mark Horsfall hasn’t gone away. Since resigning immediately after the May election, Horsfall has been a regular fixture in public input at Board of Selectmen meetings, forcing Chair Tabitha McCrohan to stay on her toes, answering hard questions on difficult subjects mostly by herself. He’s also seems to have made new Selectman Bob Longton shrink in his chair and run for a zoom connection at home just by virtue of being in the same room with him. And Selectwoman Vincent, well she looks like a deer in the headlights. Someone doesn’t like conflict. Isn’t she a Marine?
According to candidates’ night, Horsfall ran for office with two goals: working to fix Berkley’s balance sheet and cleaning up the ethics and operations of town government. Critics aligned him with the override and used that to stoke support for write-in candidate Longton. Well – we have to admit his online Facebook presence and commentary didn’t help much either and ultimately led to his demise when the torches and pitchforks came out.
We find it fascinating who is making the comments. Anyone see the connection?
So what is this about? Why won’t he go away? Continuing to push for accountability? Grandstanding? Revenge? Some don’t like the tone of the delivery but he’s made enough valid points in open meetings that the Selectwomen have not been able to ignore. Our best guess is that this is a painful lesson being administered meeting after meeting to highlight Longton’s incompetence in excruciating detail.
Could also be revenge; perhaps Horsfall is just butthurt he lost to a write-in. But every time Longton ducks a question or runs away to Zoom, it’s an embarrassment to Bob’s supporters, which are now quickly dwindling in the wake of his mishandling of Common Cemetery maintenance. Remember, Longton hid through the duration of his write in campaign too, while his supporters felt compelled to harass and threaten the current Selectwomen, Horsfall, and their families. Perhaps Longton doesn’t recognize or appreciate the consequences of their actions, but it looks like he is being handed the bill nonetheless.
Here’s what we do know. Horsfall bought a large number of raffle tickets from the Berkley Fire Association, won the raffle, and then immediately donated the equipment back to the fire department. Was it out of ego, to flaunt some money being spent? Or was he trying to help? Coincidentally, it has come to our attention that the Selectwomen used that very same lawnmower to mow the cemetery. In Berkley, apparently even a lawnmower can’t avoid getting dragged into politics.
To the surprise of few, he was photographed on a mower at the Berkley Common cemetery in early July with other volunteers, helping to restore the condition of the property. Was it really because friends called, or did he insert himself for credit? Is he the well-heeled donor that put the insurance in place for the cemetery volunteers? If so, why didn’t the Selectwomen give him credit as they did volunteer organizer Nate Kelliher? Are they on Longton’s side or could they be collaborating with Horsfall to make Bob Longton look bad?
Could Horsfall be exerting influence over elected town officials and department heads? We have unconfirmed reports that Horsfall hosts an annual 4th of July party, replete with a massive but illegal fireworks display. And it seems like the police are never called to his home to stop it. Is it special treatment in return for throwing money at a Chinese food buffet in honor of the Berkley Police Dept or just the luck of the draw with overworked cops chasing too many problems at the same time? With the way Berkley politics are, we’ll probably never know for sure.
And there’s more. Through a public records request, we have found former Town Official Wendy Cochrane complaining to the Board of Selectmen and Berkley town counsel that Horsfall gets public record requests filled ahead of time while she is forced to wait. Is it true? And who in the Town Clerk’s office or Town Hall is still leaking public records requests of others to Ms. Cochrane? We are on a mission to find out so stay tuned. Larger image below.
Tabitha, Tabitha, Tabitha!
Why can’t Cochrane ever finish an email complaining about Horsfall without always bringing up Tabitha McCrohan? Get your own blog post Ms. McCrohan(interesting idea), and stop stealing the spotlight. But seriously? Who did steal the fire truck door? Until that mystery is solved, Mr. Horsfall remains under investigation for the far more serious offense of making a donated lawnmower politically controversial.
Know something we don’t?
If you have documents, tips, or information you believe the public should know, send them to editor@theberkleyaccountabilityproject.com. Confidentiality, and your anonymity, if requested, will be respected.
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