Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 8/3/2021
HADLEY – Former Conservation Commission Chair Paulette Kudzeba filed a complaint against the Hadley Select Board after her removal on July 7. Kudzeba filed an Open Meeting Law complaint in an effort to be reappointed to the commission.
Kudzeba’s complaint argues that her removal and the reduction of members was allegedly a discussion had by board members David J. Fill, Joyce Chunglo and John Waskiewicz outside of a posted meeting.
Kudzeba also argued that her reappointment to the commission was part of a list of more than 90 people appointed to various town government positions from a consent agenda that was approved by the Select Board on June 23.
In an interview, Kudzeba explained that the Select Board’s decision was never discussed with the commission. “No one on the commission, or our staff member, was notified about the reduction. We’ve never talked to the board about it,” Kudzeba alleged.
After the Select Board removed Kudzeba, commission members Jim Hafner and Toni-Lyn Morelli, along with staff member Janice Stone, resigned in protest. On those resignations, Kudzeba said, “It’s not good management to lose three commission members and a staff member. They [the Select Board] did a disservice to the community as a whole.”
Fill and the Select Board said their decision was based on complaints from residents and farmers about a lack of customer service and poor experiences dealing with the commission.
The Select Board has held its ground on the decision to remove Kudzeba as well as reduce the commission’s size.
The board was also set to appoint two new commission members in their Aug. 4 meeting, after press time, according to the town’s notice seeking new members.