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Moreau joins Vieau and Brunetti in criticizing mayor

Date: 9/26/2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

CHICOPEE — The questions concerning the Attorney General's (AG) Office's investigation into the forgery of signatures on a referendum petition last year are now being posed by City Council President George Moreau.

Moreau told Reminder Publications, "Personally I think there is evidence [that would implicate Mayor Michael Bissonnette]."

There was no evidence presented in the AG's conclusion linking Bissonnette to the forgery.

Moreau believes the AG's investigation into the forged signatures — which was settled with Francis Lapointe admitting to the AG's findings — didn't go far back enough in time. He believes the origin of the effort to extend the mayor's term wasn't investigated adequately.

The city council president released a letter to the public on Sept. 18 calling for Bissonnette to apologize to the people of Chicopee and to acknowledge "the falsifications and [give] a full explanation for these forged signatures."

In the letter, Moreau said, "It is quite obvious that there appears to be a cover-up and the people of Chicopee are the losers."

Moreau said he doesn't know what legal action could be taken at this point. He added that constituents have been calling him expressing their concerns.

Moreau's letter came a week after City Councilors Dino Brunetti and John Vieau voiced their criticism of the outcome of the investigation.

Bissonnette called the remarks made by Brunetti and Vieau during the public speak-out of the council's Sept. 18 meeting as "30 minutes of unsupported attacks."

He said the use of the speak-out by councilors was a violation of the council's own rules. Bissonnette added that Moreau should resign as council president as "the City Council is out of control."

In light of the criticisms, Bissonnette said, "All I can do is to do my job." Part of that job, he noted, is the low tax rate city residents and businesses enjoy. Bissonnette said that he expected once the Department of Revenue make its confirmation, homeowners in Chicopee would see a "modest" reduction in rates and that the city will continue for an eighth year of having the lowest residential tax rate in the Pioneer Valley.

He added that some members of the council are "obstructionists."

Moreau said he wouldn't let this latest fight with the mayor "get in the way" of the council's duties.