REHOBOTH - First, the town was roiled over the attempted recall of Selectman Christopher Morra. Now, rumors are swirling about the town's own "spygate."

But an apparent listening device found at town hall appears to be an obsolete microphone that may have been placed there as long as 30 years ago.

The tiny, battery microphone was found by Town Administrator David Marciello about a year ago, when Marciello noticed a small wire protruding from behind a filing cabinet.

Marciello said he pulled on the wire, and a circular plastic device with perforations popped out. Marciello says the wireless microphone, "similar to the type you could buy in Radio Shack in the 1970s," probably was inoperable.

The town administrator said he doubts the device was part of any ongoing spy plot. "The way the walls and ceilings are here, you don't need sophisticated equipment to find out what's being said," he said.

Marciello said he gave the device to the police chief.

The existence of the microphone was brought to light recently by former board of registrars member Ray Burt.