Select Board Chair Responds to Recall Effort
A group of Marshfield residents has initiated the first steps of a lengthy process that, if successful, could lead to the recall of Select Board Chair Eric Kelley.
Kelley recently responded to questions posed by the South Shore Times. His unedited responses are included in this story.
What's your initial reaction to seeing the affidavit and hearing of the process moving forward?
This was probably in the works since I won the election. Of course, it's at the expense of the taxpayers to a tune of $25,000 for an election according to the town clerk. Money we could spend on other necessary needs. As we know, there are a lot of communities that are strapped for cash and Marshfield is no exception.
My reaction to it is that I am not surprised. All you have to do is look back at past Select Board meetings in how certain people used the public comment period to attack me.
Can you tell me a little about how your approach to being on the select board is different from your predecessors? What outlook do you bring to the job?
I was not happy with the direction the town was going in when I ran. MBTA zoning was a big component of that. I have been very vocal in what I think of Gov. Healey and AG Campbell are attempting to make us comply with something that has always required the vote of communities to approve. The Massachusetts Supreme Court really got this wrong.
I would say all my predecessors before me would have bent a knee to the state without a doubt. I am doing what I can to help maintain the character of Marshfield as well as not make Marshfield any more unaffordable for those who live here and would like to live here which I don't believe any of my predecessors have even attempted to do or even ask questions in doing it.
What do you say to your critics?
There is one thing I learned taking this position as a member of Select Board as when I did the local tv show in town and gave criticism to other previous board members.
It's easy to be a critic or criticize our local officials and some of it just. It's a whole different world when you are on the inside and now you are the person that has to make those decisions based on info you have that others may not.
It's a true learning experience.
Between the police chief hearing and the recent comments by the building commissioner, it appears that some employees in the town feel that you are delving into issues more appropriate for the town manager to address. Is this the case? How do you view your role vs the acting town manager when it comes to managing those delivering town services?
The session with Chief Tavares was not a decision that I made on my own. I went to town hall and spoke with Interim Town Administrator Peter Morin who has many more years of experience than I do on these issues and he felt it was necessary that the Select Board hold an executive session. I had no knowledge that Peter Morin sent Chief Tavares an email on the matter and informed Chief Tavares of the process which I was unfamiliar with. If there was more that should have been done before it led up to the decision of calling for an executive session I was not informed of a process.
Building Commissioner Andrew Stewarts public comment was very unfortunate. In my opinion I believe he had knowledge of the recall and took advantage of the situation. In my opinion it was a planned political attack. In my opinion, if Andrew felt he had done nothing wrong why do what he did? He certainly could have gone to HR. I think it's something everyone should question. Residents have reached out to me having concerns with some buildings in town. I reached out to Andrew to see if I could get answers for them. Andrew explains he has a process he goes by and the residents should reach out to him. Supposedly Andrew has told me about that before. I told Andrew that maybe I misunderstood. I believe I emailed the residents with Andrew attached to my response and explained to the residents what Andrew would like.
My role as one of three executive officers in town is to oversee the town administrator and the town itself. I don't really manage any of the staff. I may have requests for information or ask if they could do a certain function.
Do you think the recall effort will be successful?
I don't know if it will be successful. There are so many factors involved it is hard to say.
What do you think of the state of public discourse in Marshfield?
We have people that want the status quo and we have people that want change. There are two sides to this obviously, it all depends where you are with the subject matter. The issue is that those that want to keep the status quo also want change and those that want change also want the status quo. In the end, as an elected official I need to sort through the mixed signals and make the best decision I believe is in the best interest for the citizens of our great town.