I watched with disappointment the cable recording of the May 3 Board of Selectmen meeting as Alan Fraser gave his dramatic interpretation of discussions about Article 22 at our April Town Meeting. Mr. Fraser introduced the idea that both Selectwoman Wallace and the town (by way of the vote on Article 22?) had disrespected CPIC. Well, those are interpretations. I believe that the tone and demeanor of this year’s Town Meeting was civil and that Mrs. Wallace was respectful of all in making her comments.
Then, following from Mr. Fraser’s introduction, Chairman Ricci of the selectmen began an hourlong discussion of his draft apology to CPIC, which was based on offenses perceived by CPIC members and on Mr. Ricci’s assertion that “mistakes were made” in process by liaisons. Toward the end of the hourlong, contentious session, Mr. Ricci spelled out “leadership” to Mrs. Wallace, as if she were not familiar with the notion of leadership after her decades of service to the town. I believe that browbeating a board colleague at a public meeting while on local cable television is both uncivil and the very antithesis of leadership.
Joe Hutchinson
Westcott Road
