EAST LONGMEADOW – The Board of Selectmen have sworn in interim Police Chief Jeff Dalessio as the permanent head of the department. A ceremony took place at the East Longmeadow Public Library on April 11 at 4 p.m.

Interim Town Administrator Gregory Neffinger told Reminder Publications all three selectmen signed Dalessio’s contract, but only two selectmen – William Gorman and Angela Thorpe – attended the event.

Gorman said an educational incentive for the police chief position, which consists of about 30 percent of Dalessio’s salary, was removed from the contract. A residency requirement for the job was also included in the contract.

He added Dalessio’s salary is about $10,000 less than what former Police Chief Douglas Mellis received.

Mellis’ base salary for 2013 was $99,705, according to his contract.

The swearing-in event was not posted on the town’s website and when asked whether the meeting could be considered a violation of Open Meeting Law, Neffinger stated, “As long as you don’t discuss business it’s not a violation of Open Meeting Law.”

According to section 18 of the Open Meeting Law, a meeting is defined as a “deliberation of a public body with respect to any matter within the body’s jurisdiction.”

The law also defines what is not considered a public meeting. Under section 18-B it states, “attendance by a quorum of a public body at a public or private gathering, including a conference or training program or a media, social or other event, so long as the members do not deliberate.”

Neffinger added the ceremony was not publically advertised due to Dalessio’s wishes.

“Jeff Dalessio didn’t want to make a big deal about it,” Gorman said. “We obliged what he said. He didn’t want all the fanfare and the cameras.”

Selectman Paul Federici, who was unable to attend the ceremony, also said he believes the event did not violate Open Meeting Law. He signed Dalessio’s contract before the ceremony on April 11.  

He added he considers the ceremony similar to a ribbon cutting that took place at Bay Path University last year, in which all three selectmen were present.  

“I’m thinking this may be the same thing – if you’re only there to basically swear-in the chief … I don’t think that in and of itself would be a violation,” Federici noted.

“Normally what would happen [in these] circumstances is that we would approve the contract at the meeting and usually what would happen is we’d have a formal swearing-in at the meeting,” he added. “I don’t know if this was done because the [selectmen’s April 11 meeting] was postponed or what the deal was.”

He added he supports Dalessio as police chief, noting, “I think he’s going to do a great job. I’ve known him for years.”

Thorpe and Dalessio did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.

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