LITTLE COMPTON — By a unanimous vote (Councilor Gary Mataronas was absent), the Town Council agreed January 21 to pay $2,082.50 in legal fees incurred by school committee member Polly Allen in defending herself from a complaint lodged against her.

Ms. Allen's request for reimbursement, that the council approved, said, "The school superintendent and an attorney in the solicitor's firm conducted an investigation and concluded that the complaint was without any merit."

The complaint was filed in June of last year by Lynn A. Brousseau-Lebreaux, a private citizen and former candidate for the school committee in the same election in which Ms. Allen was elected.

Ms. Allen made the reimbursement request Sept. 10, 2015. The complaint against her, she said, alleged "harrasment and violation of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act."

Ms. Allen said she based her request on a state statute (RIGL Sec. 45-15-16) which mandates that a town indemnify elected public officials for all costs, including legal fees and court costs, incurred while acting within the scope of their official duties.

With her request, Ms. Allen submitted an invoice from her lawyer, documenting the billings.

In authorizing the town treasurer to pay Ms. Allen's legal bill, the Council cited Little Compton Town Code Chapter 10-2 allowing for the indemnification of school committee members for costs incurred while acting within the scope of their official duties.