Brian Ohler Misleads Town
Brian Ohler claims that this entire process with Jean Jacquier began after he was elected as North Canaan’s First Selectman, but in fact, he began his complaint against her before Election Day. Ohler’s first contact with the Secretary of State’s office was on November 1st, 2023 using his personal email and phone number. However, he listed his contact information coming from the Town Hall of North Canaan. Which means, THREE DAYS before being elected, Ohler (assuming he was going to become our First Selectman) began this battle against Jean Jacquier.
Let’s look at the facts
During the North Canaan Board of Selectman meeting on October 6th, 2025, Brian Ohler claimed he did not receive any correspondence with Jean Jacquier or her legal council about her supposedly "abandoning” her position. In a police report filed on October 2nd, Ohler was quoted saying, “Our legal team had advised all parties that Jean is not allowed to be working in her capacity until her legal team advises us of her intent to willfully return in good standing.” He then again later stated, “Our legal team decided that if she wants to return, it has to be communicated through Jean’s legal team.”
Additionally, State Statute Section 7-19 states: Each town clerk may, appoint assistant town clerks, who, having taken the oath provided for town clerks, shall in the absence or inability of the town clerk, have all the powers and perform all the duties of the town clerk. This statute protects the Town Clerk: if the Town Clerk has appointed an Assistant Town Clerk, as Jean Jacquier did, by law they have not abandoned their position.
Below is a copy of a letter sent from Jean’s lawyer, Jeffrey J. Mirman to Ohler’s lawyer, Randall DiBella on October 15th, 2025 reiterating a prior correspondence on March 11th, 2025 that “Ms. Jacquier has not abandoned her office, and intends to return when she feels able to do so.” Then further stating, “She is prepared to return to her duties full time.”
This letter directly contradicts Ohler’s claim that Jean and her legal council have not communicated her intent, when in fact they have communicated Jean’s intentions multiple times.
Ohler again contradicted facts after on October 6th, 2025 saying, “If you are ready to return to work, we will put that process into motion and you can return to work.”
On August 14th, 2025, after Brian Ohler threatened to have State Police called if Ms. Jacquier did not leave the Town Hall, Attorney John Kennelly wrote this to Town Attorney Randall DiBella:
In the police report filed October 2nd, 2025, Ohler can be quoted saying, “Jean has also been advised that she is not to return to the office. I am the chief elected official and CEO of the Town of North Canaan, and I have the power and authority to make this decision.”
However, Brian Ohler is WRONG.
The First Selectman has no jurisdiction over the Town Clerk or her office. He also claims that he has the right to bar the Town Clerk from her office under Connecticut state statutes. However, Connecticut General Statute Section 7-22 does not give the Selectman the ability to remove an elected town clerk from office. Instead, the removal of a town clerk can only happen after investigation by the state’s attorney, followed by a ruling from a judge after a hearing in which evidence is produced, witnesses are called and testimony is heard.
Let’s be clear, Brian Ohler has stated multiple times that he has not “removed” Jean of her title as elected town clerk. But he has removed her access to her office, threatened to call the police multiple times and is not allowing her to continue to do her job going as far as appointing an interim Town Clerk without statutory authority.
Brian Ohler ILLEGALLY changed the locks to the Town Clerk’s office.
Furthermore, we will admit that evidence of misconduct and neglect of duty were found in three areas. However, the Attorney General declined to take further action, only recommending Jean Jacquier make changes in her existing practices to avoid future violations. To recap, Jean was not ordered to be removed from office by a judge. Below is a copy of the letter sent to Ms. Jacquier from the office of the Attorney General after the investigation.