Select Board: CPC members ‘unprofessional,’ may face removal

Citing unprofessional behavior and favoritism, as well as a disregard for a recent Open Meeting Law violation, the Select Board is calling in members of the CPC for a discussion that could escalate into dismissal.

“What I saw a week ago last Thursday was probably the most unfortunate meeting I’ve ever seen,” Select Board Chair Peter Carlson said.

The Community Preservation Committee oversees the dispersal of funds raised through the Community Preservation Act, which helps communities preserve open space and historic sites, create affordable housing, and develop outdoor recreational facilities. 

The current makeup of the CPC has been accused of favoritism and a distaste for affordable housing. At the Select Board’s March 15 meeting, the board discussed requiring that an Affordable Housing Trust member be included on the CPC — which prompted five members of the CPC, a quorum, to join the discussion. By not recognizing the issue, the CPC was in violation of the Open Meeting Law.

During the CPC’s March 24 meeting, several members were dismissive of the violation, with the board voting 6-3 against self-reporting the issue. The following day, both CPC Vice Chair Jim Gallagher and Planning Board representative Justin Wood filed OML violation reports with the town clerk and attorney general’s offices.

“Going through these meetings… it was, at times, completely unprofessional,” Select Board member Ray Mead said. “The way I see these things and the way people have been treated going before CPC — I don’t like it.”

While Mead was in favor of dealing with the matter when members’ terms ended, Carlson raised the suggestion of possibly dismissing members who did not respect OML.

Four CPC members are appointed by the Select Board: Ken Holberger, Brook Padgett, Paul Scarlett, and Richard Whitney, all of whom attended the Select Board meeting in question along with Gallagher. Only Whitney and Gallagher were in favor of reporting the OML violation.

“I agree it’s been unprofessional and not everyone is treated the same way when projects are brought forward,” Select Board Vice Chair Colleen Roy said. “You can see that in the meetings.”

Town Administrator Evan Brassard, for example, faced aggressive and at times dismissive questioning at the March 24 meeting, when he approached the CPC to fund plans to replace rotting siding at the South Grafton Community House.

“What happened at the meetings, the attitudes, the better-than-thou crap? I hate it,” Mead said.

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