Abington’s executive board says it’s back to business after two weeks of turmoil that left them shorthanded heading into Town Meeting season.
“What happened on January 8th was unfortunate but the remaining selectmen and myself are moving forward in a positive manner absent the drama that was displayed that evening,” new Selectmen Chairman Kevin Donovan told Abington News.
However, the town may still be facing legal action after a town official says he was defamed during that meeting.
Alex Bezanson, a former selectman who was named to the Conservation Commission that night, anticipates filing a lawsuit next week against former Selectmen Chairman Alex Hagerty and the town arguing that Hagerty made unfounded and harmful accusations while making a public statement opposing his appointment to the commission.
The accusations, which Abington News is choosing not to publish but can be watched on the official recording of the meeting, drew an immediate rebuke from Donovan and others at the meeting.
Hagerty resigned Jan. 17. His resignation letter did not state a reason for his departure, but did quote from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr’s acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize.
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality,” Hagerty quoted King as saying.
An attorney for Bezanson sent Hagerty a letter on Jan. 18 demanding an “immediate and unconditional apology,” according to a copy of the letter viewed by Abington News.
Bezanson said as of Jan. 25, he had not heard a response and intends to move forward with a lawsuit.
Hagerty was not able to be reached for comment.
Selectmen this past Monday night unanimously voted to elevate Donovan to board chairman and appointed Tim Chapin board vice-chairman.
The board also voted to forego a special election to fill Hagerty’s seat. Abington’s Town Charter says the board shall call for a special election if a vacancy occurs in the Board of Selectmen more than three months before the scheduled Annual Town Elections. Hagerty’s resignation came 10 days outside that three-month deadline.
However, a lawyer for the town argued that case law gave the board some wiggle room.
“In my opinion, it would be a waste of the Town’s resources to hold a special election to fill a seat that will again be voted on at the Annual Election just several weeks later and it is not reasonable to interpret the Charter to require this result,” attorney Greg Corbo opined.
“Therefore, it is my opinion that the Board of Selectmen is not required to call a special election and it can instead wait for the seat to be filled at the Annual Election.”
The seats held by both Hagerty and Chapin are up for election this spring. Chapin has indicated he will run again. Hagerty took out nomination papers earlier this month but has not said since he resigned whether he will seek reelection.
At the start of Monday’s meeting, Selectman Kevin DiMarzio read a letter attempting to reassure residents and business owners that they shouldn’t be nervous coming before the board.
“What happened at that meeting was unprecedented and that is not what we are about. That is not how we behave. That is not what we do,” DiMarzio said.
“So for anyone that has reservations about coming in front of this board, or volunteering for a committee, or coming in for a business hearing, or any other business. That behavior will not be tolerated, nor will that happen again.”
During Monday’s meeting, the board debated setting aside a small piece of Griffin’s Dairy Farm for a Habitat for Humanity project, voted to open the farm’s Pattison Street parking lot as supplemental parking for the nearby Abington Rail Trail, and approved road closures for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Donovan said while DiMarzio was speaking for himself, he was aware of it beforehand and agreed with the spirit.
“I truly believe that the remaining four members are completely committed to ensuring a professional relationship and I can already see the difference in our interactions that evening,” he said.