To the Editor:
Georgetown Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco engaged an outside law firm over a year ago to counteract Town Counsel KP Law’s opinion that only the Conservation Commission has the authority to hire/terminate the Conservation Commission agent. He never obtained approval or direction from the Board of Selectmen.
By doing so he violated Georgetown Bylaw Chapter 125-1 which specifically empowers only the Board of Selectmen to engage counsel.
Mr. Pacheco received his opinion and kept it a secret and never informed the Board until after he exercised this “authority” to terminate Conservation Commissioner Michele Grenier. In fact, even after Ms. Grenier was terminated, The Town Common reported there was a “Town Counsel Opinion” which the paper corrected in the following edition to state “Counsel” as town counsel apparently was not consulted.
When Mr. Pacheco terminated Ms. Grenier, he did not have Selectmen approval. This violated another bylaw, Chapter 105-3 which limits authority to the Board of Selectmen.
This bylaw was specifically amended at last year’s annual Town Meeting [Article 12]. The citizens expected, demanded, that the Board of Selectmen weigh in on all hires or terminations. This is part of the job we require them to do. It’s the law.
So what did the Selectmen do? They voted at their March 26th meeting to place the issue on the upcoming agenda. Chairman Hoover failed to do that, so it was brought up at the end of their April 13th meeting and decided to include it with their Special Meeting on April 21st. Except Chairman Hoover again failed to place it on the agenda despite a VOTE of the board to do so.
Meanwhile, Ms. Grenier has prepared to sue the Town. And boy does she have a case.
So, where is this “Special Counsel” opinion Mr. Pacheco relied on to nullify our Town Bylaw? It’s a secret. He claims it is protected by attorney client privilege. Well then, what’s the name of this “Special Counsel”? Sorry, that’s secret too.
He refused a record request for that information, and an appeal has been filed with the Secretary of State Record Supervisor. And he will lose.
So, we have a very public Bylaw, passed at a public Annual Town Meeting – contrasting with a very secret new law created by a secret attorney with no legal standing with the Town. That sounds like Communist China.
And Board Chair Rob Hoover must think this is just fine, as he has taken no action in the matter, and multiple times refused to even place it on the agenda. This is the same response he had to Ms. Grenier’s performance related to Open Meeting Law Determination 2025-175. This was the same conduct Mr. Pacheco cited in his Termination Letter where he found Ms. Grenier failed to produce complete documents pursuant to a record request regarding the Commission’s February 26, 2026 meeting. This was the same thing, except now there was a transcript which captured Ms. Grenier saying in reference to Mr. Pacheco: “Oh, boy. And I wanted to say, it’s your f*cking job”
That’s what got her fired.
It wasn’t her performance. Her statement apparently so offended and angered Mr. Pacheco that he illegally fired her – in violation of Georgetown Bylaws.
What Hoover should have done is convene an emergency meeting:
– Vote to suspend Mr. Pacheco with pay pending an investigation.
– Vote to rescind Ms. Grenier’s
termination.
– Vote to issue her an apology.
There’s more to this story. Stay tuned. It gets even worse.
Vote wisely this year. The Town needs new blood.
Kevin Wood
Georgetown
