Board of Selectmen, May 13, 2014
HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REORGANIZATION MEETING MINUTES
MAY 13, 2014
5:30 PM Starbard Building
Present: Chairman Robert Lavigne, Anthony Renzoni, Jeremy Kurtz,
Mark Ferguson, Ken O’Brien
Others Present: Jacquelyn Kelly, Town Manager
Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Lavigne called the meeting to order at 5:30PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Board Discussion and Action to be Taken – Reorganization
Chairman Lavigne welcomed Ken O’Brien back as a Selectman.
Chairman Lavigne thanked the Board for opportunity to serve as its Chairman over the past year. He said he hoped that the new Board could move forward as a team to work in unity.
Sel. Ferguson interrupted Chairman Lavigne saying that working in unity was a good segue way to nominate Ken O’Brien as Chair of the Select Board.
Chairman Lavigne noted that the Board wasn’t at a point in the meeting to take nominations because the Board had some paperwork to sign first. He presented the town polices for Code of Conduct, Protected Class, and Sexual Harassment for Selectman signature.
Sel. O’Brien explained that since he had just been presented with these policies, he would like the opportunity to review them before he signed them.
The remainder of the Board signed the paperwork and turned it into Sel. Kurtz. Sel. Kurtz, acting as Clerk, noted that Sel. Ferguson had not signed and returned his policies. Sel. Ferguson said he would not sign them, adding that his attorney would be reviewing them. Chairman Lavigne said in the spirit of teamwork and moving forward he would like Sel. Ferguson to sign his papers. He explained that these were the same policies that the Selectmen signed into record several weeks ago.
Sel. Renzoni explained that all town employees sign these policies upon being hired and since leadership comes from the top, the Board agreed to sign these documents on an annual basis in May when a new Board is established.
Sel. O’Brien said that in the past, these documents had been created by a previous board, who tried to control a minority of one (himself). He said he would like to have a further discussion about these policies when the Board meets the next time before Town Meeting. He said he would like the Board to have a fresh start and was very apprehensive about signing these papers. Chairman Lavigne said the Board was not taking a vote to adopt these policies; this has already been done.
Sel. O’Brien said the Selectmen are governed by the people and these documents restrict what people can and cannot say. Chairman Lavigne disagreed that it restricts a voice; it just makes sure that a voice is used in a professional manner.
Chairman Lavigne said that he had received correspondence from Sel. Kurtz the previous night asking to address the Board. He turned the floor over to Sel. Kurtz.
Sel. Kurtz said that based on the Board’s experiences over the previous year, he would like to nominate Sel. Renzoni as Chair of the Selectboard. Sel. Lavigne seconded the motion for discussion.
Sel. Ferguson loudly disagreed and an argument ensued. Sel. Kurtz said he felt that it was not fair to let Sel. Ferguson continue to hijack meetings. Sel. Ferguson blew up screaming that he was an American Patriot, not a terrorist, and that he would not hijack anything. Sel. Renzoni called Sel. Ferguson a bully.
Sel. Ferguson spoke to supporting Ken O’Brien as Chairman. He said that Sel. O’Brien had previously served on the Board and did not have the opportunity to serve at that time. He said he felt that the Board owed the Chairman position to Sel. O’Brien. Sel. Ferguson discussed Sel. Renzoni’s “Facebook trash” and his poor attendance while serving on the Water/Sewer Advisory Board. He also mentioned how Sel. Renzoni’s wife had previously written an article in the newspaper about a former Selectman. Sel. Ferguson began quoting about water/sewer statistics and Chairman Lavigne asked him to stay on subject and speak to the motion on the floor. Sel. Ferguson added that he wants a unifier as the Chairman of the Board and someone that talks trash is not a unifier.
Sel. O’Brien asked Board members to speak to each other respectfully and that this behavior was disrespectful to the residents of Holden. He asked the Selectmen to stop interrupting each other. He said that he would not stay on as a Selectman, and would resign if the Board could not behave. It is important to allow people to have their say and if he is elected Chair he will let people speak but basic civility must be adhered to. The Board needs to keep focused and do town business.
Sel. Renzoni said he would serve as Chairman if it is the will of the majority of the Board. He thanked Sel. O’Brien for his honesty and would like to move the motion.
Sel. Ferguson said he was not a hijacker and called for a point of order. Chairman Lavigne said Sel. Ferguson’s comments were a point of information not order. Sel. Ferguson said it was a fact that Sel. Renzoni’s wife wrote an incendiary letter to the Landmark about former Selectman Jumonville two years ago. Chairman Lavigne said that no one’s family should be brought into any discussion.
A member of audience made a noise and Chairman Lavigne asked that the audience member be quiet. Sel. O’Brien said that audience members that interrupt should be asked to leave the meeting.
Chairman Lavigne said he would not let false information be said at Board meetings.
Sel. Kurtz moved the motion adding his reasons for not nominating Sel. O’Brien as Chairman. He explained that Sel. O’Brien had been absent from the Board for two years and that he felt that Sel. O’Brien needed to come up to speed on what has been going on in town.
Chairman Lavigne agreed with Sel. Kurtz that a lot of business had been going on in town and a new member of the Board should not serve as Chairman.
Motion by Sel. Kurtz, seconded by Sel. Lavigne, it was VOTED 3-1-1 WITH 1 OPPOSED AND 1 ABSTAINED TO APPOINT SEL. RENZONI AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN. (OPPOSED: FERGUSON, ABSTAINED: O’BRIEN.)
Chairman Renzoni assumed control of the meeting.
Motion by Sel. Kurtz and seconded by Sel. Lavigne the Board discussed the appointment of Sel. O’Brien as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Selectmen.
Both Sel. Kurtz and Sel. Lavigne spoke positively to Sel. O’Brien’s past experiences as a Selectman.
Sel. Ferguson said that Sel. O’Brien was smart and it would take him about an hour to read the documentation to catch up.
Motion by Sel. Kurtz, seconded by Sel. Lavigne, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPOINT SEL. O’BRIEN AS VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
Motion by Sel. Lavigne and seconded by Sel. O’Brien the Board discussed the appointment of Sel. Kurtz as Clerk of the Board of Selectmen.
Sel. Ferguson said he would be voting against the motion because he was not a terrorist.
Motion by Sel. Lavigne, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was VOTED 4-1 WITH 1 OPPOSED TO APPOINT SEL. KURTZ AS CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN. (OPPOSED: FERGUSON.)
- Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Lavigne, seconded by Sel. Kurtz, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE MAY 13, 2014 MEETING AT 6:12PM.
APPROVED: June 16, 2014