By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

The Hooksett Town Council voted to launch an investigation into the actions of Town Councilor Patricia Rueppel, who’s been accused of scheming to stall an $18 million infrastructure plan bolstered by voters in May.

After a 5-2 vote at the council’s Wednesday, July 26, meeting, a three-member committee will look into a series complaints lodged against Rueppel by Town Councilor Michael DiBitetto.

DiBitetto has alleged multiple violations of the town’s charter, and has accused Rueppel of participating in a covert plan to hinder negotiations with Nebraska-based outdoor sports retailer Cabela’s.

In May, voters gave approval to the council to negotiate terms for an $18 million bond to spur the town’s Interstate 93 Exit 11 business district. The $18 million would be used to build both public infrastructure and make improvements to allow for a slew of private developments anticipated for the area.

DiBitetto’s charges stem from leaked e-mail correspondence and a published letter from Rueppel to The Hooksett Banner, each occurring after the May 9 vote. He’s asked for Rueppel’s council seat to be vacated.

Rueppel, who won a District I seat in May, and previously served on the council for five years, has described the charges as a political ploy to muzzle her, and said she plans to fight them.

Rueppel also claims the correspondence all came before she was officially sworn into the council on July 3.

Rueppel, who previously refused to recuse herself from the council as it pondered the charges, voted not to proceed with the investigation.

Town Councilor David Ross, who unsuccessfully lobbied to allow Rueppel a chance to verbally respond to the charges at the latest meeting, cast the other negative vote.

Town Council Chairman George Longfellow cited advice from town legal counsel that Rueppel and DiBitetto each recuse themselves from matters related to the investigation.

DiBitetto questioned the need for his recusal.

“The fact that one recognized a misdeed should not be cause for disqualification of that person from the board,” he said.

Longfellow and Town Councilor Jason Hyde each abstained from the vote to pursue an investigation.

Hyde said he’s recusing himself from the matter because a private e-mail he authored was leaked and reported in The Hooksett Banner.

Longfellow, and councilors James Gorton and Paul Loiselle volunteered to serve on the committee to determine the validity of the charges. The group plans to suggest to the council at its Wednesday, Aug. 9, meeting, whether formal charges against Rueppel should be filed.

Clearing the air

Later in the meeting, Town Administrator David Jodoin read a letter which he said hoped would “set things straight for the public.”

Jodoin mentioned a September 2005 nonpublic council meeting, and a “council task force,” which have been highlighted subjects recently with Rueppel’s pending investigation.

Jodoin said the two subjects have been misrepresented in letters to the editor, editorials and in the leaked e-mail correspondence.

In a June 1 letter to the editor, and in a leaked e-mail, Rueppel has noted a Sept. 28 nonpublic session featuring state officials and private parties vested in the Cabela’s project.

She also suggested negotiations with Cabela’s were being handled by a select few people.

“Mike (DiBitetto) is constantly working without the knowledge of the other 7 councilors,” Rueppel wrote.

Rueppel also said, “So much is done in side bar meeting, I cannot get a handle on it.”

Jodoin justified the nonpublic session.

“The only real facts that I have seen so far is that: yes, the council did have a nonpublic session in September, and yes, a select few people were invited,” he said. “That is what nonpublic is. Legal counsel advised that, in fact, the town council could hold the meeting under RSA 91-A.”

Jodoin also addressed what has been commonly been referred to as the Cabela’s “task force,” that has been shrouded in suspicion both before and after the May vote.

Jodoin explained that he and DiBitetto had discussed for months how to present the Cabela’s plan to voters.

When it became public, he said, the two decided to form an advisory group made of “local, well-respected citizens,” including Mike Sorel and Tom Barrett, each of whom eventually lobbied against the $18 million warrant article.

“It was mentioned that this was a council task force,” said Jodoin. “It was not. It was my suggestion and committee.”

Jodoin likened the task force to an economic development committee, and said he asked DiBitetto to contact members of the group.

“Yes there have been meetings with various different people, not to broker any type of deal, but to gain knowledge from them as to the steps to take to get the best deal for the residents,” Jodoin said. “I have always believed that there is nothing wrong with learning from people’s success or failures.”