Exeter Officials Battling in Court Over Right-to-Know Law

Exeter officials are locked in a legal fight over access to information covered by the state's Right-to-Know law.

In July, Selectman Frank Ferraro filed a petition to sue the town, alleging Town Manager Russ Dean violated the law by failing to provide him with information about a town-owned solar array. Ferraro said he wanted the information to see if the array has been cost-effective.


Ferraro said other citizens have also had trouble accessing information from the town.

"This is about making sure the town operates in an open and transparent manner," Ferraro said.

Dean claimed Ferraro "sprung a trap."

"At no time did you tell me that you were requesting this information as an individual under RSA 91-A; I thought you were doing it as one of my supervisors," Dean said in an e-mail. "And when you didn't get the requested information within 5 business days, instead of mentioning it to me, or making it clear that you considered your request to have been made under RSA 91-A, you ran off to the court which will cause the town to incur significant attorneys fees."

A Rockingham County Superior Court judge this week reviewed the case and could issue a ruling in the next few days. Ferraro asked the judge to order Dean to take training on the Right-to-Know law.

Dean on Thursday said he will have more to say after the judge issues a ruling.