Regarding the “Step aside on Silver Scone,” editorial April 4, the Ledger-Transcript issued a baseless and disrespectful article questioning the personal ethics of Richard Smeeth and me in the context of the New Ipswich Planning Board’s consideration of the Silver Scone application.

The article calls for our recusal from the board and was published almost two months after the first Planning Board hearing on the matter. This implies that Smeeth had been participating in the Planning Board’s consideration of the application and needed to be convinced to recuse himself prior to a final decision. The truth is that Smeeth recused himself on Jan. 25, more than two weeks before the Feb. 8 initial hearing on Silver Scone Teas.

Not only was recusal the ethical and proper action to take but it also preserves my clients’ standing in any potential future appeals of faulty town decisions. These are the reasons I advised Smeeth months ago to communicate his intent to recuse himself.

Responsible journalism requires research and diligence to discern fact from fiction and to avoid false assumptions. In the present circumstance, the Ledger-Transcript failed miserably. A simple phone call or email to any member of the Planning Board would have revealed that Smeeth had recused himself. In addition, I never had any intention to participate in the board’s consideration of the matter. Yet, the Ledger-Transcript was more interested in attempting to shame us into recusal.

The Ledger-Transcript owes us an apology and should immediately print a retraction.

Nancy Clark

New Ipswich

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