Letter to the editor: Regarding misleading use of Mattapoisett Town Seal

To the editor:

Recently, several Mattapoisett residents received campaign-style text messages urging them to attend the Special Town Meeting scheduled for October 4th. What is deeply troubling is that these texts used the official seal of the Town of Mattapoisett to promote attendance at what is, by definition, a non-binding and unnecessary meeting.

The unauthorized use of a town seal is not a trivial matter. State law expressly prohibits using an official seal to give the impression of legitimacy or authority where none exists. The Town Clerk is the sole custodian of our seal and should immediately investigate this misuse.

Let’s not forget: the voters of Mattapoisett already decided this issue at the Annual Town Meeting last May, approving the expansion of the Select Board from three to five members. That process went through all proper legal channels, was signed into law, and reflects the will of the people. Now, because a handful of opponents gathered signatures, our Town Administrator has been forced to schedule this Special Town Meeting. He has acknowledged that it will cost taxpayers at least $3,500—money wasted on relitigating a decision already made.

One cannot help but notice the timing. The current Select Board Chairman, Tyler Macallister, is a declared candidate for Congress. The use of the town seal in these campaign-style texts raises the question of whether this manufactured controversy is being leveraged for political gain. Mr. Macallister owes this community a clear statement: that he had no role in this effort, that he denounces the misuse of the town seal, and that he will not exploit this meeting for his campaign.

Our democracy depends on respecting both the will of the voters and the integrity of our institutions. Mattapoisett deserves better than costly distractions and questionable tactics.

Elizabeth Stewart