Thorpe out as East Longmeadow Board of Selectmen chair

Date: 9/18/2014

EAST LONGMEADOW – Angela Thorpe was voted out as chair in an unprecedented action taken by the Board of Selectmen at its Sept. 16 meeting.

Selectmen William Gorman and Paul Federici voted in favor of reinstating Federici as chair, while Thorpe opposed it. Thorpe was installed as chair, unseating Federici, during the board’s reorganization after the April town election. Gorman nominated her for the position.

Gorman said in a statement to start the meeting, “I would like to apologize to all directors of the departments that are under the direction of the Select Board. I, Billy Gorman, made a big mistake when I voted in a chairperson to the current board because the Angela Thorpe that sits here now is not the Angela Thorpe I knew before she was chairman. I made the mistake, so I’ll correct the mistake tonight.”

Gorman suggested the motion, which was made by Federici and seconded by Gorman.

“Obviously this is a tough situation. Unfortunately I have been through this before under much more serious charges with someone else on the board and everyone remembers my response then, which is the person is innocent until proven guilty,” Federici said. “I understand there’s investigations going on, so I don’t want to be the one saying, ‘This was done, this was done, this was done’ until it’s been proven.

“However, I do know that I have been spoken to by a lot of people and, for lack of a better word, it seems there’s been a crisis of confidence in our board between department heads, between employees and between townspeople and something has to be done, be it temporary or whatever, in order to regain the trust of the townspeople in us,” he concluded.

Thorpe was later appointed clerk of the board by a 2 to 0 vote. She abstained.

"While I'm surprised and distraught about the situation that is at hand and some of the allegations that were thrown, while they are untruthful, and I don't believe the clerk is the position I should be in, I do understand that the board does need a clerk and for the best of the town, I will accept that position and then deal with other things in another manner," she said.

Thorpe also argued that many of the issues raised by Gorman regarding her leadership were incorrect.

“I will take the time to draft a notice and get back to you,” she said.

Gorman said he didn’t want Thorpe to get back to him, and further accused her of “thinking you’re a mayor here,” in what became a heated exchange during which Gorman called Thorpe a liar before Federici called for a return to a level of professionalism.

After the vote, Thorpe said she did not wish to cede the position to Federici until she consulted with Town Counsel James Donahue; however, a point of order was made by a resident, pointing out Thorpe did not make a motion to refer to counsel. When she made that motion, it was not seconded. Federici said if Town Counsel said the change was illegal, he would step down.

The action came in response to complaints made by resident Steve Steitz, who called for Thorpe’s resignation at the Sept. 2 meeting, citing allegations of abuse of power and mismanagement of town employees, referring specifically to recent events involving the Recreation Department.

Thorpe refused to resign at that time and warned Steitz of the consequences of slander.

Addressing a Steitz’s complaint regarding an incident at Countryside Store in which he believed Thorpe abused her position, Gorman said he investigated the incident personally and spoke with the employee involved in the alleged incident and the store manager. He said while Thorpe denied even being there, the two store employees refuted that claim.

Gorman also stated he personally saw Thorpe utilize her issued badge to receive professional courtesy at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield as Steitz claimed. Steitz said the incident had been reported to authorities in Boston.

Gorman also said he received a phone complaint at his home from the animal control officer, who claimed Thorpe attempted to receive a discount for her cat at a local animal hospital.

Thorpe said the discount was requested because it was an abandoned cat, explaining some hospitals provide discounts because they regard the animal as a rescue.

Gorman added he had been made aware of allegations of two other incidents, but did not have evidence; however, he said in speaking with Police Chief Douglas Mellis, he was told the police are aware of one of the occurrences.

Thorpe said she was confident Gorman’s investigations into the allegations would come up empty.

Gorman also criticized Thorpe’s management style, stating the board has been unable to adequately address the town’s needs.

“This board has been running up and down, up and down,” he said. “We can’t get nothing done here because of what’s been going on.”

As an example, Gorman said there was a long delay in getting identification cards issued to town employees such as plumbers and electricians.

“Since June they’ve been wanting these cards. They just got the cards; some of them are going to be outdated in October already,” he said. “Ms. Thorpe took them home to scrutinize them, for what reason I have no idea, but she had them for approximately two or two and a half weeks.”

Thorpe said she took the cards home to sign them.

Gorman also expressed displeasure in delays and complications in hiring for open positions that he said created “undue stress” for department heads, citing delays in filling dispatch position at the Council on Aging as an example. Thorpe said the board agreed to have three finalists from nine interviewed candidates before the board and Gorman did not inform the board he had a finalist selected.

 Gorman also cited the highly publicized mismanagement of personnel in the Recreation Department and issues related to hiring for job with the Clerk’s Office in his argument.

Regarding the Clerk’s Office position, he alleged Thorpe, under the guise of wanting to have a “chit chat,” interviewed an internal candidate who was given the Clerk’s Office position, denying her the opportunity to have union representation present.

He also mentioned delays in purchasing a laptop for the health agent and a grant for the Council on Aging that was nearly lost because she refused to sign it before reading it.

“Everything is procrastinated with Ms. Thorpe,” he said.

Gorman also accused Thorpe of overstepping her responsibilities, claiming, “She sticks her nose in my liaison assignments instead of taking care of the assignments she was directed to. Some of those people [in departments Thorpe was assigned to] have never seen her up there.”

Thorpe retorted Gorman was guilty of the same thing, citing his involvement with the Clerk’s Office position.