“Sour Grapes,” “Childishness,” “needs Anger Management”

“These are the days that try men’s souls”.. ok, we’re not exactly at that point, but things are sure getting interesting here in the town of Dracut.

In a Letter to the Editor in the Lowell Sun, Selectman John Zimini had defended his action to not participate as his “protest” to the selection of temporary appointments to the Dracut and GLTech School Committees.

I didn’t get the actual letter here on the forum that day, and the Sun is unavailable online for some reason.. but the jist of his letter was taken by everyone else on the Board of Selectmen and School Committee that he was accusing them of “back room” dealing.

Now, when the Martins first appeared to be leaving town months ago.. we all became aware of it not by a sign on a lawn, but by reports from board members that they were being approached for support for this appointment. Ken Martin had lined up a number of votes when Mike McNamara did the same and ended up lining up the 5 votes necessary for the appointment.

No deals here, no back room.. the votes would be made publicly.

The first appointment has been made, and the second will be chosen Monday.

After a couple weeks of having this accusation of back-room dealing fester, Board of Selectman Chair Bob Cox called into Warren Shaw and Saturday Morning Live on 980 WCAP this past Saturday.

He is concerned that a board that is working well together could start getting some cracks in the table.

“when he wrote that letter.. (I understand what he was trying to accomplish) .. I think he was out to defend his position against what Mike had said. When he mentioned it at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting … he said that.

But when he wrote the letter in the paper I told him I’m a little disappointed. This board has worked very hard to be a cohesive unit to work tirelessly to stay together on things and do the business of the town. ”

He went on to praise Mike McNamara: “I don’t have to sell Michael McNamara to you Warren, there’s not a candidate in this town or anyone else I could think of who is better qualified to serve the school committee.”

A strong endorsement during and election period. Cox referred to Zimini’s speech at the BOS meeting prior to McNamara’s appointment which can be seen at the bottom of this posting.

Soon after, we got a call from School Committeeman Mike Miles.

“I’ve got a tough skin, I can take Mr Zimini’s frustration for whatever reason. But the childish behavior I call .. and I’ll say it to him when I see him or Nancy Gagnon as well ..  in not showing up for the vote is ..

You know, these people get paid by the town to support everything that goes on in this town. Now I don’t take that pay, and I don’t take the benefits. Does it make me a better school committee member, maybe not.  I’m in a  learning mode… but I’m doing this for the right reasons. I have a lot to learn, but I know sour grapes when I see it”

Now, Mike went on to say that he met with Ken Martin who was soliciting his vote, and never did meet Mike McNamara. But by the time of the vote, after reviewing the credentials of both candidates, he had chosen the better candidate, even knowing he will have to run against McNamara next year.

He did go on to hit his co-board member Nancy Gagnon:

I think it was sour grapes, and I think it was a very poor decision by Nancy Gagnon. I think Nancy Gagnon made a very poor decision. She’s not a friend of mine, I have to work with her. She’s a colleague, but she’s never really called me about anything. I think she does a very poor job herself, and that’s my own opinion.

This points out the issue that unlike the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee is a divided entity that seems to work against itself at times.

After the news break, Selectman John Zimini called in for the longest segment to discuss the issue.

He first emphasized that he has no problem with Mike McNamara or Ken Martin (or any other candidate running for election) his issue was with the process.

Really a repeat of what he said at the board meeting and later wrote in the letter to the editor. John emphasized that he wanted an election to choose the filling of the positions rather than appointments.

“Warren, I listen to you regularly, and I agree with you that the Martins should have made a move to allow the people to vote. They did. They did the right thing. I thought with the election so close, we should let the people elect the person, not the political establishment.”

I don’t have a problem with Mr Cox, I don’t have a problem with any members of my board. I really feel badly that they took offense to what I said, but I have a right to my opinion. I’m going to give it and I’m not going to be afraid of any consequences.

He went on to talk of his history working with Mike McNamara on the Local Access Television board, and his respect for him.

After then discussing that both sides were lining up votes, and such.. he continued:

What irritated me most was Mr Miles. He’s got a little anger management problem that he’s going to have to deal with on his own terms, but the problem is that I didn’t agree with him saying it was sour grapes… because that’s far from the truth.

If it was sour grapes, I have a right to go to a meeting or not go to a meeting as I so choose. Now there are people on my side of the fence who don’t agree with me that I should go to the the meeting [I think he was stumbling a little here] .

I’m taking what I consider to be my protest stance.

I’m going to be on the side of the voter all the time.

Then asked if he thought whether Mike McNamara got the position due to back-room politics:

I think Mike Miles should be asked that question. To a person, almost everybody was saying the same thing I was saying behind the scenes. “Maybe we should leave it open.. especially Mr Miles. He said it to several of his colleagues. He didn’t talk to me about it. ..

To this point I never knew that there was an underlying problem with Mr Miles and I… for him to come on the air today and call me childish because we don’t.. and then to throw Nancy Gagnon.. I don’t have to defend Nancy Gagnon (who is a friend of mine).

He throws her under the bus, and says that she’s not a good school committee person? She’s probably the most knowledgeable person when it comes to schools on that board at this point.

You may want to criticize her for not going your way, but don’t make it personal. When he doesn’t have something positive to say or can’t defend his position he becomes personal.

At this point, it was just sort of ironic that Zimini was talking about Miles getting personal, when that was exactly what Zimini was doing.. but I could understand where he was coming from.

In the end, they all had their say.. or made their point. The next appointment will be made on Monday to appoint the GLTech position.

Life in Dracut will go on.

 

 Bob Cox calls about Zimini Letter [4:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Mike Miles calls in as well [2:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 John Zimini finishes the discussion [6:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download