Layoffs leave Mass. Town with only one selectman

Local news

Charles Sexton-Diranian resigned from the Townsend Board of Selectmen after losing his job as a consultant amid allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct.

A small Massachusetts town on the New Hampshire border will hold a special election this weekend to replace two of its three selectmen — one who left amid allegations of sexual harassment and another who said he was targeted by a local citizen journalist.

Charles Sexton-Diranian resigned from the Townsend Board of Selectmen in early September after losing his consulting license from the Department of Health, according to documents obtained by Boston.com.

Acting Chairman Joe Shank resigned later in September, leaving the town with just one selectman and the board’s activities apparently at a standstill. There has not been a meeting of the Board of Selectmen in the city since then calendar and no meetings posted on their YouTube channel.

Townsend will hold a special election Saturday to almost completely replace the city’s leadership. Theresa Morse is the only board member left. She did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Townsend selectman resigns after allegations of ‘inappropriate sexual conduct’

Sexton-Diranian, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, worked as program director at Crozier House in Worcester from 2022 until March this year. He was fired after an internal investigation confirmed “multiple reports from residents and staff of inappropriate sexual conduct, sexual harassment, abuse, bullying and intimidation” by Sexton-Diranian, according to the DPH Bureau of Substance Addiction Services.

Residents of the home, a residential treatment program for men, reported multiple instances of sexual comments and touching. One resident said Sexton-Diranian “gave him the option to perform sexual acts or be kicked out of the program,” according to the DPH report.

Sexton-Diranian also instructed staff to search a client for drugs. Employees “indicated that they did not think the strip search was appropriate, but that they did not report the incident out of fear of retaliation by (him),” the report said. He allegedly touched the resident’s buttocks during a long hug, put his arm around the staff, sat too close to the residents on a couch and called the staff and residents ‘sexy’ or ‘handsome’.

He would also indicate to staff members that he could read their emails, especially when reporting his behavior, the report said.

Sexton-Diranian did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the city said after his resignation on Sept. 5 that the issue is “a personal matter that (Sexton-Diranian) is dealing with and one that the city does not want to get involved in.”

Cindy King, a former Townsend Selectman, first reported on the allegations against Sexton-Diranian in an hour-long YouTube video posted in late August. She appeared to read from the DPH’s public records and also accused Sexton-Diranian of election fraud.

“This has everything to do with his position in the city, because this is about power and control,” King said in an interview video. She called Sexton-Diranian “a sexual predator.”

Second board member resigns: ‘Not worth it for me and my family’

Less than a month after Sexton-Diranian, Shank resigned from his position on the board. He told Boston.com that after about 50 years of volunteering in Townsend, he felt he had to resign.

“The constant criticism, complaints and false accusations from community members, many of whom cannot be bothered to watch or attend a meeting or offer any productive solutions, have made filling this position is not worth it for me and my family. Shank said during his resignation speech, which was received with applause.

After Shank mentioned a “productive solution,” he turned around and glared at King, who was there filming for her YouTube channel “Reel Deal Around Town,” according to a video she posted.

King was convicted of charges related to domestic violence and witness intimidation involving her ex-wife during her time on the board, court records show.

At the time of the attack, she threatened police, saying, “I’m a member of the Board of Selectman, just wait until Monday and you’ll regret it.”

She has been running her channel for the past seven months, filming local Townsend meetings, calling on local officials and discussing local issues. She argues for a five-member Board of Selectmen in one video, and in the other she Movies Shank before a meeting as part of her “First Amendment” rights. King too criticized the city for not recording a board meeting in May due to internet problems.

Shank spoke out against King and her channel, saying her video camera was always in his face during meetings.

“Think about that in your own work, how much abuse would you put up with before you say enough is enough,” Shank told Boston.com.

He did not comment on the allegations against Sexton-Diranian, but blamed King for both resignations.

“It did influence my resignation because of that type of bad behavior,” Shank said. “Cindy King and certain people created such a hostile environment for him that there was no way I would ever put my family in danger to put up with something like that.”

Now both Shank and Sexton-Diranian chairs are available. The ballot for Saturday’s elections the two seats, one with a term ending in 2026 and the other in 2027.