Mr. Capello, You Say Berwick Will Remember Your Transparency. I Remember Something Different.
Arthur Capello says he hopes Berwick remembers his transparency and willingness to talk with anybody. One Berwick resident looks back at the documented record—including the very budget meeting Capello references—and describes a very different experience with access, answers and local government.
Berwick Select Board Promised a Working Recording. Nearly 11 Months Later, Where Is It?
A defective public record, an on-camera promise to provide a working copy, and nearly 11 months of waiting. The documented timeline raises questions about transparency, public access, and follow-through in Berwick.
The Price of Transparency: How Maine DHHS Turned Public Records into a Paywall
A Maine citizen’s Freedom of Access Act requests began with a promise of $0 and a four-week turnaround, only to grow into invoices totaling $450 and $50,875, months of delays, and ultimately no records produced. This investigative report examines the timeline, escalating costs, procedural hurdles, and broader questions surrounding transparency, public records, and accountability within the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
The Budget Discussion That Ended Before the Answer Arrived
A Berwick resident asked about virtual participation before a public budget discussion. The answer didn’t arrive until after the discussion had ended and residents had already voted, raising broader questions about accessibility, civic engagement, and government responsiveness.
Maine Towns Spend Thousands on FOAA Legal Fees While Public Records Requests Stall
A northern Maine town spent over $18,000 in taxpayer funds on legal fees tied to public records requests—yet key documents remain unproduced. A similar pattern of delays and silence in southern Maine raises broader questions about transparency, access, and the growing cost of obtaining public records across the state.