Swampscott Select Board Censures Member Fletcher 4-0 for Code of Conduct Violations

SWAMPSCOTT — April 15, 2026 — Swampscott Select Board censures member Mary Ellen Fletcher 4-0 for code of conduct violations involving town staff. Acting on an independent investigation by the law firm Clifford and Kenny, dated March 25-26, 2026, the board voted unanimously — with Fletcher not permitted to cast a ballot — to censure her under Chapter 5, Section C of the town's Board and Committee Code of Conduct, which governs conduct in relation to town staff. Chair Katy Phelan recommended narrowing the original draft censure, which had also cited conduct toward other officials, saying "everybody shares some burden of blame here." More than a dozen residents spoke or submitted written comment, including former Recreation Department coordinator Jackie Camerlingo, who described direct pressure from Fletcher that put employees "in positions where they feel they have to choose between doing their job correctly and responding to authority," and School Committee member Glenn Pastor, who documented at least three instances of Fletcher bypassing established communication protocols with the school department. The board also voted unanimously to close the annual town meeting warrant for the May 18 meeting and to remove a proposed charter change on Finance Committee appointments, directing staff instead to launch a full charter review process.