Redevelopment Authority Votes No Confidence In Selectmen

STOUGHTON, MA — The recent controversy surrounding the board of selectmen and the position of town manager has caused one local board to lose their faith in the selectmen.

Last month, the Stoughton Redevelopment Authority took a vote of no confidence against the selectmen, believing that they will not work to undertake the redevelopment of downtown Stoughton.

"The Authority's Stoughton Downtown Redevelopment Plan was created after two years of concerted effort, considerable expense and several public forums. Our vote reflects the continued lack of response from the Board of Selectmen," reads a letter from Chairman Michael Barrett, Vice-Chair Louis Gitto, Treasurer Forrest Lindwall, and member Pamela Carr. Authority member Helder Resendes was not present when the vote was taken.

The vote came as the town transitioned from Town Manager Michael Hartman to an interim town manager. Hartman was told in December that his contract would not be renewed after it expired on June 30. On June 29, Town Accountant William Rowe was appointed the interim town manager. He was on the job for about a month until former selectman Stephen Anastos was appointed to the position.

A Norfolk Superior Court judge recently ruled that the six-months notice was sufficient and the additional step of discharging Hartman with four votes by the selectmen was not necessary, despite being required by the town charter.

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