Resident Objects To Treatment Of Colarusso, Boussy

A letter to the editor from Stoneham resident Bill Dunn

Recently I was exposed to the political power play being exhibited by THE Chairman of our Board of Selectmen, and two other board members. Clearly these members of the Board are putting their political partisanship ahead of the people they were elected to serve and the betterment of the town.

Two months ago Tom Boussy and Caroline Colarusso at an Infrastructure Sub committee meeting clarified some untruths stated by a town employee at the Robin Hood School MWRA meeting that had pointed the finger towards the prior board of selectmen regarding the route to be taken by MWRA project through a residential neighborhood. Boussy and Colarusso were recently appointed by the BOS Infrastructure subcommittee having been long standing members of the board and felt it necessary to clarify much of what was said at the Robin Hood School meeting. That same town employee lives in the vicinity of that MWRA project rose to her feet at that meeting and told the audience that the Board of Selectmen had chosen the residential route which was completely false.

I then watched the Sept. 6th Infrastructure Sub Committee meeting led by Colarusso and Boussy and for the very first time since this project began they were the only town officials willing to hold the MWRA and the contractor accountable by standing up for us here in the neighborhood. Siebold took offense at Colarusso and Boussy’s advocacy for neighborhood residents and only after Boussy and Colarusso scheduled a 2^nd Instructure subcommittee meeting nearly 2 months later did Siebold, the Chairman angrily object. Siebold and stopped the meeting from being posted which oversteps his authority. Seibold further continued his egregious actions against Boussy and Colarusso by posting a separate meeting to dissolve their committee to occur two days later. Seibold posted this meeting on a Friday night at the same time the high school football game was to occur. Seibold then only contacted 2 members of the Board of Selectmen to confirm they could attend, and to determine if he had a quorum for his meeting to oust Colarusso and Boussy. Colarusso and Boussy were never contacted about the Friday meet as the other members were. This appears to be not consistent with the Open Meeting law, and can only hope this is followed up on.

Siebold apparently cares more about the MWRA, contractors and town employees than he does the residents who elected him. Anything Colarusso and Boussy do to protect Stoneham residents, George Siebold opposes. When Colarusso exposed water department misallocations, Siebold, Wilson and MacNeill all voted against an investigation. An investigation to get to the truth. Water bills are due December 1^st, and we are no closer to finding out what has gone wrong within the water department because of their blockage of getting to the truth. Colarusso and Boussy are exactly what this town needs, break up the good old boys, kudos to both of them.

Bill Dunn, Kays Rd, Stoneham

Photo by Bob Holmes