Tempers flared on Monday night as the Rochester Board of Assessors questioned the Town Administrator Richard LaCamera’s access to confidential employee files.

John Mello, Chair of the Board of Assessors, said that the board was uncomfortable allowing LaCamera to keep track of an employee’s contract and performance evaluation if that employee is under the supervision of the assessors.

Mello argued that all personnel records for employees in the assessors’ office should remain with the assessors.

“He is not a competent authority as far as appraisal is concerned for the assessment,” Mello said.

“It is not the duty of the town administrator to review the assessment,” he said.

LaCamera said he doesn’t keep the contracts and evaluations so he can read over them, rather it is just to keep the information secure.

LaCamera said that it has always been town policy for all town personnel files to be kept under his watch.

Selectman Naida Parker agreed.

Parker added that it was standard procedure for the town administrator to supervise Selectmen wishing to view personnel files before LaCamera came on board.

This, she said, was to ensure that the records be kept confidential.

“Confidentiality has always been paramount in this town,” Parker said. “Evaluations are not treated lightly.”

“The bottom line is that this person is an employee of the town of Rochester,” LaCamera said.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, LaCamera said he only reviews an employee’s contract or evaluation if that employee’s supervisor asks him to do so.

Town Counsel Blair Bailey was on hand during Monday night’s Selectmen meeting to side with LaCamera.

Bailey said that while LaCamera does have access to the files, there has not been an issue with LaCamera or any of his predecessors breaching a town employee’s confidentiality in the past.

“It’s not an issue. It hasn’t been an issue. The thought that this one person is going to become an issue, I take issue with,” Bailey said.

As far as protecting the town’s interests goes, Bailey said all town personnel files need to be kept in the town administrator’s care in case a legal issue arises.

If there were a problem, Bailey said it would be the town and the taxpayers that paid for it, not the assessors.

For the assessors to hold on to the evaluation and not share it with LaCamera, “makes no sense,” said Bailey.

“I don’t want to be blindsided down the road,” he said.

After much back-and-forth, the assessors maintained the argument against submitting the employee’s evaluation to LaCamera.

The Selectmen agreed to continue the discussion at a date to be determined.