Southwick Town Clerk Michelle Hill explains the importance of town officials to fulfill their appointed or elected positions and the impact it could have on town government and business projects. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Since abruptly leaving a Board of Selectmen meeting several weeks ago, Selectwoman Tracy Cesan has been absent.
Cesan said her absence the past two weeks “is a reflection of the negative treatment I feel I have been subjected to as a BOS member over the last two plus years and more specifically the recent actions towards me by a public official during the October 6, 2014 and October 20, 2014 BOS meetings.”
Cesan said her absence at meetings is not a reflection of her involvement with the board.
“I believe any reasonable person would understand my reluctance to return to that table on Monday nights after what I have endured,” Cesan said in an email to the newspaper.
“I have shared my concerns with the remaining BOS via an e-mail sent out by the BOS Secretary; they have not responded or reached out to me. I feel this topic, as well as other topics have been brought to the newspaper and open BOS meetings as a battle of public opinion and perception and to have the town’s people reflect on my character in a negative way, I chose not to elaborate further at this time or engage in this battle,” she wrote.
Cesan said she is “disheartened at the path some people have taken that represent our town” and that personal opinions of her have distracted them from town business.
Cesan told Selectmen Russell Fox and Joseph Deedy that she would not return as she left that night following a discussion in open session about a complaint against Cesan from a town employee. She told the men she wanted an apology from them for remarks made about her by Fox if she was expected to apologize to the employee who filed the complaint.
Cesan has not resigned and stated yesterday “I am weighing my options on moving forward.”
Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart said there has been no discussion about any recourse or resignation.
“The Board of Selectmen would have to direct me to look into the situation and I would consult with Town Counsel on precedence,” Stinehart said.
Fox declined to comment, citing pending litigation Cesan has against the town.
“I would need to consult with Town Counsel first,” said Fox.
Deedy said he was disappointed that the board was operating with just two members.
“We are missing a member of the board, and we are entering budget season again,” Deedy said. “You need three people to make decisions or we could be in a stalemate position.”
Town Clerk Michelle Hill said even if Cesan chose to resign, there is little that can be done at this point in the year to add another board member. If she did not resign, the board would have to operate as it is, or a resident could petition for a recall vote.
“They would need a large number of signatures to do that,” said Hill.
Once signatures were gathered, there would have to be a special election, which could cost up to $8,000, and there would still need to be the scheduled election in May.
“It’s not feasible for the taxpayers because of time and cost,” Hill said.
Hill said the board can function with just two members but there could be occasions when a vote is stalled because it neither passes nor fails.
“Then, it’s deadlocked,” Hill said.
If the measure being voted on has a deadline – such as the recent solar credit vote – and there is a 1-1 vote, the measure would ultimately fail.
“If it’s something that isn’t on a deadline, it can carry forward and be continued,” Hill said.
Deedy said he was concerned about deadlock, especially with the budget season quickly approaching.
Deedy also said having a town employee, such as Cesan, serve on the board is a difficult situation for conducting business. He said that person is not able to vote on anything related to their department, which for Cesan is the fire department.
“I’d like to look into making it so a town employee cannot be on the board,” said Deedy. “It does not work.”
