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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor CHICOPEE Ward 1 School Committee candidate Adam Lamontagne has charged a series of accusations made by Conservation Commission Chair Jean Fitzgerald as a "desperate political ploy." Fitzgerald sent a letter to Mayor Michael Bissonnette dated Oct. 15 accusing Lamontagne with skipping meetings and inappropriate behavior from last September to this month. Bissonnette supplied the press with the letter last week and said he has given it to the Law Department for review and possible action before the election. Lamontagne said neither Fitzgerald nor Bissonnette has given him the letter. Attorney Victor Anop who said Lamontagne is considering suing both parties and the city for "false comments and defamation of character." "These are all false accusations," Lamontagne said to The Chicopee Herald. He added that he was "blindsided" by the letter. Fitzgerald said that Lamontagne missed commission meetings on Oct.3, Sept. 19, July 18, March 7 of this year and Sept. 6, 2006. Lamontagne said his attendance rate was 90 percent. She also said he called on Sept. 22 at midnight concerning the issue of tennis courts at the new Chicopee Comprehensive High School. He allegedly told Fitzgerald that any action the commission took could hinder him in his campaign against incumbent Dana Cutler. Fitzgerald claimed that "he also has stated on more than one occasion that 'I know you work for the School Department and I can influence your job if you know what I mean' (laughing)." When read that passage during this interview, Lamontagne said the superintendent, rather than the School Committee, supervises staff members. "I feel that Mr. Lamontagne has and is trying to sway the commission to compromise their regulatory duties in order to gain a seat on School Committee in the upcoming election. I also feel Mr. Lamontagne does not have the best interests of the city's wetlands and conservation issues in mind. While this is only my opinion, I feel that the above references to Mr. Lamontagne's performance as a member of the Chicopee Conversation Commission speaks for itself," Fitzgerald wrote Bissonnette. Former Mayor Richard Goyette named Lamontagne to the commission. Lamontagne said Bissonnette could not remove him from the commission without a hearing before the Board of Aldermen. Anop said that usually if there is a conflict of interest charge, the accusations are given to the district attorney for review. Anop questioned why Fitzgerald waited until two weeks before the election to make the accusations. Lamontagne said he had a good working relationship with Fitzgerald and that he enjoyed working on the commission. "It's unfortunate that dirty politics are involved in this campaign," Lamontagne added. |