Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:01 PM EDT
Official resigns, blames Mageau
 Zoning Board member withdraws nomination for reappointment, blaming acting Town Council President James Mageau. |
A longtime member of the Zoning Board last night withdrew his nomination for reappointment, blaming acting Town Council President James Mageau for forcing him to step away from public service earlier than he had planned.
Milton Krantz read a letter to the council explaining his decision, but even getting to be heard was a battle. As he stepped up to the podium, after being recognized to speak by another council member, Mageau demanded he sit down.
“You will sit down, sir, until I have recognized you,’’ Mageau said, pounding his gavel.
When Krantz persisted in his effort to speak, Mageau ordered the Town Sergeant, who was standing in the back of the council chambers, to “sit him down.’’ Mageau maintained that a motion was on the floor and another member of the council could not recognize a member of the public in that case.
But Town Solicitor Robert Craven disagreed when the Town Sergeant looked to Craven for guidance. When that happened, Mageau became irate. He pounded the gavel again and said, “I’m running the meeting. We’re going to move that motion. ‘‘
The motion in question, which was ultimately approved, appointed Bill Meyer to a fiveyear term on the Zoning Board. Two alternates, Richard Frank and Scott Northup, were also appointed to shorter terms. But this vote wasn’t taken until Krantz finally had his say.
“I had hoped to retire when I was ready, not when a vengeful, spiteful, meanspirited Mr. Mageau decided that he would get even because of personal animosity toward me,’’ Krantz said, noting that the animosity stemmed from an assault case he filed against Mageau last year.
By not seeking reappointment, Krantz said he hoped to shine a light on the “political divisiveness’’ that has characterized Charlestown’s politics since Mageau was elected. He encouraged voters in November to change the situation. An audience of 30 or so people broke into applause when Krantz finished reading his statement.
Krantz was not the only person last night to lament the tumultuous, bickering nature of recent town politics. Nor was he the only person to get into a confrontation with the council president.
At the meeting’s outset, when the council was asked to approve the minutes of its July 21 meeting, an argument flared between Mageau and councilwoman Harriett Allen.
Ordinarily, the approval of minutes is a routine affair, but not last night. Allen said she objected to a handout Mageau wanted to include in the minutes because, in her opinion, it contained potentially libelous and slanderous statements about another individual that could get the council into legal trouble. Allen said she didn’t mind if Mageau wanted to put himself at risk, but “it could put the town at risk,’’ she said.
But Mageau dismissed Allen’s concerns, saying the information in the handout had been published many times before and, therefore, posed no liability threat. More than once, he called her concern “frivolous,’’ adding he didn’t want to entertain “such nonsense.’’
From there on in, almost every person who went to the podium got into a battle with the council president, including former council member Deborah Carney, and current Planning Commission head Ruth Platner.
Carney came under attack for allowing recommendations by a committee that has been studying whether Charlestown should withdraw from the Chariho Regional School District to become public. Mageau accused Carney of leaking the information to the press before the Council had an opportunity to review it.
“If you had any integrity at all, you should have called a joint meeting with the council,’’ he said.
Carney tried repeatedly to explain that the recommendations were made public because a reporter happened to attend the meeting at which they were discussed. There was nothing she could do about it, she said. She apologized to Mageau for his not getting them first, but Mageau would have none of it.
“You’re done,’’ he said, slamming the gavel down.
In the midst of the numerous confrontations that left some members of the public shaking their heads, the council managed to transact some business. Among other things, it set a public hearing for Aug. 19 on proposed revisions to the Town Charter. That meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. It also agreed to hold a joint meeting with the Ad Hoc Committee on Schools for Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.
In other business, the council agreed to abate $26,000 in back taxes owed on a parcel formerly owned by Kenyon Industries, Inc. Craven recommended the abatement, noting that since no one owned the property any more the town had no other choice. It also approved a request put forward by Town Administrator Edward Barrett to apply for a $200,000 federal grant to assess the Kenyon Piece landfill after the Environmental Protection Agency cleans it up.
But the issue of new vendor fees for Ninigret Park was tabled until next month’s meeting. And Mageau refused to consider a request for $5,000 to hire a consultant, from a group that has been studying ways to tighten the town’s zoning ordinances. The consultant is needed to study scientific advancements, which need to be incorporated into the town’s zoning if it is to withstand legal challenge, the Planning Commission head told the council.
“We can’t leave the Zoning Board without guidance and have the Zoning Board taken to court,’’ she said.
But Mageau said he saw no need for such a consultant because the town has staff people that can do the work.
He further said he wouldn’t even consider the idea unless the Planning Commission formally voted to request a consultant. Platner explained that at a July 10 workshop, not only members of the Planning Commission but also members of the Zoning Board and the town’s Wastewater Management Commission unanimously agreed that a consultant was needed.
But this wasn’t good enough for Mageau, who ordered Planter to go back and get a vote from her Commission. At the same, Mageau said he didn’t care what Platner did.
“I’m not going to support it,’’ he said.
The meeting ended as it began — rancorously.
Council member Katharine Waterman said she wanted to share her “humor’’ at having received a letter from Barrett that accuses her of 14 violations of the Town Charter.
At issue was Waterman’s attempt to speak to some staff people in connection with efforts to tighten the zoning code. Waterman didn’t read the letter, but she said Barrett accused her of intimidating his staff, a characterization she described as “unprofessional’’ and distressing to her.
“I don’t think anyone is afraid of me,’’ she said.
Barrett said Waterman violated sections of the charter that prohibit individual council members from communicating with staff members instead of the Town Administrator, among other actions.
He read aloud a few of the regulations Waterman was said to have violated.
But Waterman adamantly denied his charges.
“I did none of those things,’’ she said.
Waterman and others described Barrett’s letter as just the sort of personal, harmful bickering that has colored town politics of late.
“This town has been so damaged by this stuff,’’ said Waterman, adding, “I want to see it stopped.’’
Milton Krantz read a letter to the council explaining his decision, but even getting to be heard was a battle. As he stepped up to the podium, after being recognized to speak by another council member, Mageau demanded he sit down.
“You will sit down, sir, until I have recognized you,’’ Mageau said, pounding his gavel.
When Krantz persisted in his effort to speak, Mageau ordered the Town Sergeant, who was standing in the back of the council chambers, to “sit him down.’’ Mageau maintained that a motion was on the floor and another member of the council could not recognize a member of the public in that case.
But Town Solicitor Robert Craven disagreed when the Town Sergeant looked to Craven for guidance. When that happened, Mageau became irate. He pounded the gavel again and said, “I’m running the meeting. We’re going to move that motion. ‘‘
The motion in question, which was ultimately approved, appointed Bill Meyer to a fiveyear term on the Zoning Board. Two alternates, Richard Frank and Scott Northup, were also appointed to shorter terms. But this vote wasn’t taken until Krantz finally had his say.
“I had hoped to retire when I was ready, not when a vengeful, spiteful, meanspirited Mr. Mageau decided that he would get even because of personal animosity toward me,’’ Krantz said, noting that the animosity stemmed from an assault case he filed against Mageau last year.
By not seeking reappointment, Krantz said he hoped to shine a light on the “political divisiveness’’ that has characterized Charlestown’s politics since Mageau was elected. He encouraged voters in November to change the situation. An audience of 30 or so people broke into applause when Krantz finished reading his statement.
Krantz was not the only person last night to lament the tumultuous, bickering nature of recent town politics. Nor was he the only person to get into a confrontation with the council president.
At the meeting’s outset, when the council was asked to approve the minutes of its July 21 meeting, an argument flared between Mageau and councilwoman Harriett Allen.
Ordinarily, the approval of minutes is a routine affair, but not last night. Allen said she objected to a handout Mageau wanted to include in the minutes because, in her opinion, it contained potentially libelous and slanderous statements about another individual that could get the council into legal trouble. Allen said she didn’t mind if Mageau wanted to put himself at risk, but “it could put the town at risk,’’ she said.
But Mageau dismissed Allen’s concerns, saying the information in the handout had been published many times before and, therefore, posed no liability threat. More than once, he called her concern “frivolous,’’ adding he didn’t want to entertain “such nonsense.’’
From there on in, almost every person who went to the podium got into a battle with the council president, including former council member Deborah Carney, and current Planning Commission head Ruth Platner.
Carney came under attack for allowing recommendations by a committee that has been studying whether Charlestown should withdraw from the Chariho Regional School District to become public. Mageau accused Carney of leaking the information to the press before the Council had an opportunity to review it.
“If you had any integrity at all, you should have called a joint meeting with the council,’’ he said.
Carney tried repeatedly to explain that the recommendations were made public because a reporter happened to attend the meeting at which they were discussed. There was nothing she could do about it, she said. She apologized to Mageau for his not getting them first, but Mageau would have none of it.
“You’re done,’’ he said, slamming the gavel down.
In the midst of the numerous confrontations that left some members of the public shaking their heads, the council managed to transact some business. Among other things, it set a public hearing for Aug. 19 on proposed revisions to the Town Charter. That meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. It also agreed to hold a joint meeting with the Ad Hoc Committee on Schools for Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.
In other business, the council agreed to abate $26,000 in back taxes owed on a parcel formerly owned by Kenyon Industries, Inc. Craven recommended the abatement, noting that since no one owned the property any more the town had no other choice. It also approved a request put forward by Town Administrator Edward Barrett to apply for a $200,000 federal grant to assess the Kenyon Piece landfill after the Environmental Protection Agency cleans it up.
But the issue of new vendor fees for Ninigret Park was tabled until next month’s meeting. And Mageau refused to consider a request for $5,000 to hire a consultant, from a group that has been studying ways to tighten the town’s zoning ordinances. The consultant is needed to study scientific advancements, which need to be incorporated into the town’s zoning if it is to withstand legal challenge, the Planning Commission head told the council.
“We can’t leave the Zoning Board without guidance and have the Zoning Board taken to court,’’ she said.
But Mageau said he saw no need for such a consultant because the town has staff people that can do the work.
He further said he wouldn’t even consider the idea unless the Planning Commission formally voted to request a consultant. Platner explained that at a July 10 workshop, not only members of the Planning Commission but also members of the Zoning Board and the town’s Wastewater Management Commission unanimously agreed that a consultant was needed.
But this wasn’t good enough for Mageau, who ordered Planter to go back and get a vote from her Commission. At the same, Mageau said he didn’t care what Platner did.
“I’m not going to support it,’’ he said.
The meeting ended as it began — rancorously.
Council member Katharine Waterman said she wanted to share her “humor’’ at having received a letter from Barrett that accuses her of 14 violations of the Town Charter.
At issue was Waterman’s attempt to speak to some staff people in connection with efforts to tighten the zoning code. Waterman didn’t read the letter, but she said Barrett accused her of intimidating his staff, a characterization she described as “unprofessional’’ and distressing to her.
“I don’t think anyone is afraid of me,’’ she said.
Barrett said Waterman violated sections of the charter that prohibit individual council members from communicating with staff members instead of the Town Administrator, among other actions.
He read aloud a few of the regulations Waterman was said to have violated.
But Waterman adamantly denied his charges.
“I did none of those things,’’ she said.
Waterman and others described Barrett’s letter as just the sort of personal, harmful bickering that has colored town politics of late.
“This town has been so damaged by this stuff,’’ said Waterman, adding, “I want to see it stopped.’’
Roger wrote on Aug 14, 2008 12:02 PM:
" James Mageau does not appear to actually own any property in the town of Charlestown. Why is that??
"
"
Mike(former Charlestown resident) wrote on Aug 13, 2008 3:01 PM:
" I never thought I would say this after being raised in the great beachfront town of Charlestown, but I am glad I no longer call Charlestown home. The actions of certain council members is abhorrent. The good citizens of Charlestown might want to vote in November to have all their council members undergoe psychiatric evaluation. "
Bruce E. wrote on Aug 13, 2008 2:46 PM:
" Leave the poor man alone...he's fighting for his town too. If he didn't give a dam he wouldn't be on the council, who after all you all did vote for him, that's how he got the position. He has lived in Charlestown all of his life. He's pretty near too elderly to be on the council many more years. I think he knows what he's doing. If you don't like it then retire from the council or don't go to the meetings. P.S. STOP ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF KIDS! "
Betty wrote on Aug 13, 2008 2:43 PM:
" Now your playing the "Blame Game" GROW UP YOU PEOPLE! "
Westerly Resident wrote on Aug 13, 2008 2:11 PM:
" Charlestown's town council has the WORST reputation out of all the towns. You all act like Babies who desperately need there diaper changed. Aren't you all embarrased? If your not...YOU SHOULD BE! "
Harriet wrote on Aug 13, 2008 2:06 PM:
" Guess he showed you all who was BOSS!! "
Coralie S. wrote on Aug 13, 2008 1:05 PM:
" SOUNDS LIKE JIMMY STOOD UP TO THE PLATE!
AFTER ALL, HE IS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT!
HIS WORD IS IT, SO THERE! Good for you Jimmy, way to go! "
AFTER ALL, HE IS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT!
HIS WORD IS IT, SO THERE! Good for you Jimmy, way to go! "
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