At the July 9 Ayer Board of Selectmen's meeting, Calvin Moore was granted carte blanche to blast the The Public Spirit newspaper by Chairman Jim Fay. "Garbage" is what Moore called the newspaper's July 6 front page story titled "Pop-up selex meeting sparks battle royal."

Moore was miffed again when, on July 13, his July 6 newspaper-waving tirade before the board was reported on in a second story titled "Moore fallout over selectmen 'battle royal.'"

The genesis of the first story was a series of emails documenting the epic miscommunication between the Ayer Board of Selectmen, particularly Fay, in trying to organize a quorum for a special single-issue, June 29, mid-day meeting to accommodate Moore. Moore needed board approval to clear paperwork needed to sell a downtown building.

Selectman Pauline Conley provided the emails we used as sources, which were authenticated before they ran in print. Both Conley and Fay confirmed they authored the emails and that they were accurately quoted in terms of content and context.

Moore was miffed that Conley referred to him discreetly as "the Seller," who had loudly demanded service from selectman secretary Janet Lewis on Monday, June 25, and Wednesday, June 27, causing a ruckus at Town Hall. Moore repeatedly confused the date and maintained that he was calm and collected at the June 29 meeting and that he would "question the reporter," noting there was no media coverage of the June 29 meeting.

We stand by

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our reporting and advise Moore to re-read the story, which was based entirely on the Conley/Fay emails. While Moore shoots arrows at Conley, the only selectman to identify Moore by name in the email chain was Fay.

Town Administrator Robert Pontbriand tactfully confirmed for Nashoba Publishing at the July 9 board meeting that he personally had to leave his office on June 27 to intervene between Moore and the secretary. Pontbriand said Moore presented as "upset and anxious."

"I'd say you were upset and anxious to get this done," said Pontbriand to Moore.

"Not angry," blurted Moore in response as he stood in the doorway before walking out of the selectmen's meeting.

As to the second story, we're not sure what Moore expected to achieve by complaining about the news coverage to the selectmen on July 9. If Moore thought his second tirade, replete with "upset and anxious" antics, would not be reported on, he was mistaken.

Moore contacted us twice last week -- once to complain about the first story, and again to complain about the second story. We asked Moore to respond specifically as to what facts in the story were incorrect.

We're waiting to hear back.

As always, complaints will be considered and corrections made for any Nashoba Publishing story that contains errors. Please bring your complaints directly to me at editor@nashobapub.com or call 978-772-0777, ext. 247. I'll be happy to listen.