Group Wants ZBA Chair Removed From Detox Center Decision

WILMINGTON, MA -- More than a year after the chair of the Wilmington Zoning Board of Appeals used the term "junkie" to refer to people with drug addition, a group opposing the construction of a drug treatment facility in Wilmington said he cannot rule impartially on the issue. The Select Board will meet in executive session on Feb. 11 to discuss a request from the advocacy group Concerned Citizens of Wilmington to force Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Daniel J. Veerman to recuse himself from decisions on the controversial proposal.

In October 2017, Veerman used the term "junkie" to refer to people with drug addiction on his personal Facebook page. But Concerned Citizens only objected to his participation in the special permit process after he voted in favor of the proposal last month.

Veerman was one of three ZBA members to vote in favor of the project on Jan. 16. But with two members voting against the proposal, the project failed to get the super majority it needed for final approval.

Ethan Sawyer of Concerned Citizens said the select board has the authority to remove Veerman if he does not voluntarily recuse himself for the remainder of the special permit application process for the proposed detox center at363 Middlesex Avenue. "Residents have written a letter to the Board of Selectmen requesting that Mr. Veerman be removed from BOA for the remainder of the Detox application process because he cannot impartially judge this case under Federal Law," Sawyer said.

At Monday night's Select Board meeting, Selectman Jonathan Eaton said he would recuse himself from discussions on Veerman. Both men are attorneys and have had dealings in the past, Eaton said. That would leave the decision on whether or not to remove Veerman to Selectman Michael McCoy -- who has been a vocal opponent of the detox center, Selectman Ed Loud, who is resigning, and Kevin Caira and Greg Bendel, who are both running for reelection.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).