SOUTHWICK – Selectwoman Tracy Cesan abruptly left the Board of Selectmen meeting last night following what she said was an invasion of her privacy.
Chairman Russell Fox brought up an issue that was discussed in a previous executive session regarding a complaint made against Cesan from a town employee alleging she behaved improperly and made a disparaging remark about the employee.
The matter was turned over to town counsel for investigation and a report was made.
“He concluded that there is a poor working relationship and a disparaging remark was made,” said Fox.
He then said a written apology from the Board of Selectmen should be sent to the employee.
Cesan protested and said she would not be apologizing for something she did not do. She also questioned the investigation from town counsel, saying it was “predetermined, predestined, not accurate, and flawed.”
“You will have to look at legally forcing me to apologize for something I didn’t do,” she said.
Fox said the matter was discussed in a previous executive session and noted that Cesan walked out of that meeting.
Cesan said she left because she felt “unsafe and bullied.”
She added that she felt unsafe and bullied at last night’s meeting and said “this is unprofessional.”
“You asked me if I felt threatened by the employee while the employee was in the room,” she said about her reason for walking out of that meeting.
Cesan said she felt threatened and bullied again last night, and that her privacy was violated by discussing the topic in open session. She also said she had no knowledge that the topic would be discussed at last night’s meeting.
“If I had been notified, I would have brought proper representation and a statement,” she said.
Cesan said that the board has numerous documents showing disparaging remarks made about Cesan from other town employees, as well as audio of Fox making disparaging remarks about her.
Cesan said that if Fox did not apologize to her for his remarks, the board would not be “living up to its own standards.”
Fox did not address those remarks.
Cesan then stood up and noted the time of 7:30 p.m. as she left and said “I will probably not be coming back to any selectmen meetings.”
Fox and fellow selectmen Joseph Deedy both supported the measure to send a written apology to the town employee.
