Town Moderator Subject of Ethics Complaint

Rehoboth Town Moderator William Cute was the subject of an ethics complaint lodged by an anonymous caller regarding a meeting last July with town and school officials.

Cute attended the meeting with the chair and vice-chair of the Dighton-Rehoboth School Committee, Superintendent Anthony Azar, Rehoboth Finance Committee Chairman Michael Deignan, and Selectmen Gerry Schwall and Michael Costello. The discussion was about the town’s share of the regional school assessment.  “At that meeting, I cast no vote and felt I was there to be a moderating presence,” Cute told the Board of Selectmen Monday.

An investigator from the state ethics commission informed Cute of the complaint in January. The complaint alleged Cute’s attendance at the meeting was a violation of a conflict of interest statute because of his part-time employment with the regional school district. The opinion sent by the ethics commission recommended Cute file a disclosure form with the town clerk stating his financial interest in the district.

Cute insisted he would not recuse himself from any discussion of town warrant articles pertaining to the school department, although the ethics commission suggested he “should consider” recusing himself. “I have no doubt that I enjoy the confidence of the vast majority of elected voters in town,” Cute said.

“The people of this town respect you,” said Schwall. “You are a good and honorable man.” Cute, who has served as moderator since 2007, is running unopposed in the April town election.