GEORGETOWN – Like many towns this spring, the Georgetown SelectBoard last week chose one of its own to be its chair for the next two years. But while most town organization meetings are cordial, get-acquainted sessions, Georgetown’s was highly contentious with the lone new member being told sarcastically, “nice way to start.”
When the nominations began, Michael Donahue, the newest member of the SelectBoard, nominated veteran selectman Doug Dawes to be the chair. Laura Repplier, in turn, nominated Robert Hoover, who has served two years on the board.
The only discussion came from Donahue who had brought five questions apparently for Hoover to respond to. He submitted the same five questions to Dawes, but only after Repplier insisted.
The questions started with Donahue asking if Hoover would commit to resolve all complaints filed against a selectman within 30 days. Hoover, looking perplexed at the question, said he would if the board agreed.
Donahue followed with a second question about whether Hoover would vote to hold any person found to be in violation of town rules and laws accountable, including possibly being terminated.
Increasingly annoyed with the questions, Hoover asked “Mike, you are starting to lose me on these questions. What is the point of these questions?”
“They are just yes or no answers,” Donahue said.
“No, they are not,” Hoover said.
Referring to it being Donahue’s first meeting as a selectman, Hoover added, “Nice way to start.”
After asking Dawes the same questions, Donahue remembered having yet another question, which he asked both candidates. The question was whether Dawes or Hoover would commit to discipline any person or town employee who did not cooperate with a town investigation to the point of being terminated. Both candidates said they would follow the SelectBoard’s wishes.
Hoover was then elected three to two with Rachel Bancroft joining Hoover and Repplier in electing Hoover chair.
In recent years, Georgetown has had several residents, including Donahue, file complaints for a variety of reasons against SelectBoard members, against town employees or against volunteer board and commission members.
In February of last year, Donahue petitioned the SelectBoard to remove Bancroft from her positions on the Conservation Commission and the Community Preservation Commission. He did not try to have her removed from the SelectBoard.
In his complaint of more than 1,300 words, Michael Donahue accused Bancroft of lack of “professional competence” in making town decisions as the reason he wanted Bancroft removed. He did not detail any evidence of his accusation.
A complaint, signed by 100 residents, petitioned the SelectBoard to remove Dawes at the height of the community battle over approval of G. Mello Trash Corp.’s plan to build a large trash transfer station.
The SelectBoard did not resolve either complaint.
In an executive session, the SelectBoard hired a private detective firm, the Stirm Group in Newburyport, to investigate the Conservation Commission and its former agent. The results of that investigation have not been released, but at Hoover’s persistence, the SelectBoard agreed last week to hold a special executive session at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 28, to discuss the detective firm’s findings and what, if anything, to do with them. ♦
