Mystery ZBA member slated for chopping block
Published on August 28th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - A member of the Stoneham Zoning Board of Appeals may soon be ousted from their position by the Board of Selectmen for an alleged past indiscretion. The sketchy details surrounding the individual’s identity and the inappropriate actions are still unclear, as the Selectmen chose to speak of the situation in the vaguest of terms. Stoneham Selectman Mary Pecoraro filed a successful motion with the Board of Selectmen at this week’s meeting to arrange a meeting with the mystery ZBA member during their September 10 Selectmen meeting.
“I don’t believe this person should be on the Board for a number of reasons, and I think I’d like to continue discussion of specifics in executive session,” said Pecoraro. “At the time of this individual’s appointment, the Selectmen were unaware of a situation of wrongdoing involving the person.”
“The actions seriously call into question both the person’s character and reputation,” added Pecoraro.
Pecoraro refused to comment further on the identity of the person, but did reveal that she had abstained during the individual’s appointment to the board in question. Further discussion ensued, and comments by Town Counsel William Solomon and Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello unearthed the identity of the ZBA.
Pecoraro suggested that the Selectmen write a letter to the ZBA member, and invite them to a meeting during their public session or in executive session. The Selectmen desired the individual to appear before the Board to explain their actions, and to discuss further actions.
According to Town Counsel William Solomon, the Board of Selectmen would need ample cause to remove anyone from an appointed position. The Selectmen and Solomon also discussed the possibility of the ZBA member failing to appear before the Board (of Selectmen.)
“You may decide that there isn’t enough just cause for a removal from the Board, or that the action was so horrific that it’s just cause for removal,” said Solomon. “The actions would have to be very significant for removal, though.”
Ciccarello requested a five minute recess to contemplate the situation, and, upon his return, ZBA Chairman Bill Sullivan arrived to witness the proceedings.
“I was watching the meeting on TV, and I wanted to come up here and address the Board,” said Sullivan. “If I’m the individual, then I’d like to talk about it right now and come to some kind of decision.”
Sullivan was assured that he was not the ZBA member in question, and that the matter would not be settled that evening.
Ciccarello then moved to table the motion to file the letter, and was joined by Selectman Bob Sweeney in siding against punishment of the individual. Pecoraro and Charles Smith both voted in favor of sending out the letter, and Chairman Tony Kennedy provided the crucial third vote to send out the letter.
“I must admit that I’m coming into this really not knowing much about the alluded to activity, but it sounds as if there’s something here,” said Kennedy. “I think this is something that needs to be addressed before it gets us in trouble as a Board.”
The Selectmen decided on 7 p.m. on September 10 to invite the individual, and left them the option to address the Board during public or executive session and a second option to bring an attorney.
The remaining ZBA, minus Sullivan, consists of Kevin McLaughlin, Gerry Cunningham, John Biggio, Ann Simmons, and Harry Sampson.
“I wish the Selectmen had shown a little backbone tonight, and not left the person’s identity up in the air,” said Sullivan of the decision to allow several innocent ZBA members dangling in the wind. “I was watching television and I thought they were talking about me, so I came flying down here to town hall.”
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