MONSON — A vacancy on the Board of Health led to the appointment of Joan Simmons, with a 4-3 vote during the Monson Select Board meeting on Feb. 14.

The vacancy comes after former Board of Health member Tammy Warren submitted a letter of resignation on Jan. 8. In the letter, Warren said her departure is a result of the comments and actions made by Board of Health member and Select Board Vice Chair Mary Hull.

Two candidates applied for the vacant seat – Sarah McNamara and Simmons. McNamara was unable to attend the meeting but submitted a letter and application form to the board.

Currently, McNamara serves as vice chair of the Cemetery Commission and is a den leader for Monson Cub Scout Pack 168. She shared that she has three children in Monson schools and is active in the community. “I am compassionate, and I can empathize with a wide range of people,” McNamara said.

She continued, “I am also very organized and would love to help set up community events such as wellness fairs, question and answer opportunities, flu clinics and community education.”

Next, Simmons shared her experiences and reasons on why she would like to join the Board of Health. For most of her life, Simmons said she has been involved in “health related experiences.” She is a professional occupational therapist and even taught occupational therapy at Springfield College. For several years, Simmons served on the Council on Aging. Currently, she works part-time in Massachusetts Senior Games, a nonprofit dedicated to involving older adults in competitive sports and comradery, among other volunteer work.

“I just value health – physical health, social health, psychological health – for all people,” said Simmons.

If appointed, Simmons said she would like to see improved communication with the Board of Health and community members, along with building a more positive reputation.

Hull asked Simmons if she had attended any Board of Health meetings since the one she had to attend when she applied for the position last June.

Simmons said she went to two meetings. Hull shared that if Simmons was interested in joining the board, she would have attended more meetings. “If your interest was there, we would have seen your face as we did Ms. McNamara,” Hull said.

Simmons noted that she was asked to participate in the fall prevention health clinic, although it did not happen, along with volunteering to be a part of the swap shop in town, assisting with older adults and the issues with trash barrels. Oftentimes, Simmons said she reached out to volunteer but never heard back from anyone. She assured the boards that her interest was there, but it was hard for her to attend meetings without participating.

When there was recently room for two candidates to join the Board of Health, Select Board Chair Pat Oney said Simmons was one of her candidates and still is. Oney shared that it is important to have someone on the board with a health-related background, compared to someone who has school aged children. She went on to recognize Simmons for her volunteer work, even though she was not appointed last year.

Hull read three letters of recommendation in support of McNamara from Zoning Board of Appeals Chair David Beaudoin, Board of Health Chair Larissa Krutov and Replanting Monson Tree Committee member Valerie Beaudoin.
Select Board Clerk John Morrell made a motion to appoint Simmons to fill the Board of Health vacancy until June 30, 2024. The motion was seconded and approved by Oney, Morrell and Board of Health members Kathleen Nothe and Elaine Kurasinski. Hull and Krutov voted no. As Hull serves on both the Select Board and Board of Health, her vote counted twice.

After the appointment was made, the board went on to discuss Warren’s letter of resignation as it pertains to Hull. Oney shared that on Jan. 10, the Select Board addressed three complaints filed against Hull in her role on the Board of Health. On Feb. 14, they addressed a fourth complaint.

Morrell read the complaint that was addressed to him and Oney.

“This letter comes to you with a heavy heart. I joined our Board of Health with high hopes I could make a difference in our town’s outlook on health,” said former Board of Health member Tammy Warren. With many issues that need to be addressed, she said, “I feel as if we cannot accomplish this with the current hostility that is Mary Hull.”

“During meetings I feel pressured to sit and be quiet,” said Warren. She added, Hull said Nothe and Warren aren’t “real” members as the Board of Health should be the ones deciding who joins – not the Select Board.
Warren went on to say that Hull has become “verbally hostile” in many of their meetings.

“I certainly wouldn’t allow myself to be bullied in my workplace so why would I accept it during my volunteer work,” said Warren. “I will say that I would gladly rejoin or stay on the Board of Health when or if she steps down or is removed.”

If Hull remains on the board, Warren said she will not be a part of it and asked the Select Board to accept her letter of resignation.

Hull said there were several “misrepresentations” in the letter. She added that Warren did not attend a lot of the meetings and “nothing got done” while she was on the board.

Safety and Respect at Work recommendations

Hull made a motion to hold off on discussing the Safety and Respect at Work recommendations regarding the complaints Town Administrator Jennifer Wolowicz made against her.

Hull asked that the recommendations be discussed later, after the Open Meeting Law violation complaints she submitted are addressed.

Oney said they have waited over a month to discuss the recommendations. She noted that Hull reported 16 Open Meeting Law violations against the Select Board and 16 responses were received from town counsel.

“Even if the allegations that you put in those complaints are true, they still don’t state a violation of the Open Meeting Law,” said Oney.

Hull replied, “I disagree, and I believe that’s up to the [Attorney General] to decide and we should wait until they do.”

Oney noted that the Open Meeting Law violations are still not relevant to the recommendations in the investigation report. The purpose of the recommendations is to make the town policies and protocols better.

The motion to hold off on discussion of the recommendations did not pass with a 2-1 vote.

Oney explained that this is a follow-up to the Dec. 14, 2022, meeting regarding Wolowicz’ complaints against Hull.

“The summary of the investigation report conclusion is that Hull engaged in unprofessional conduct, engaged in uncivil and unconstructive commentary and violated the towns code of conduct policy many times,” said Oney.

Recommendation No. 2 was to nullify the town administrator’s March 8, 2022, performance review and remove it from her personnel file. Oney recommended to follow up with the human resources assistant to make sure the task is completed.

Recommendation No. 4 was to ensure the performance review process for the town administrator is clearly defined and communicated to relative parties. Oney proposed drafting a performance review process including a specific protocol for interviewing staff to solicit feedback and present it to the Select Board for discussion. Oney volunteered to do that.

Recommendation No. 5 was to review and update the current town administrator job description to ensure goals and objectives are clear, manageable and achievable. Oney recommended having a discussion on the job description in an upcoming meeting.

Recommendation No. 6, to engage outside meditation experts to work with the town administrator and the Select Board on improving Select Board communications and discussions, was approved. This includes taking a recess from a meeting if necessary. For outside mediation, Oney said she could look at options with the human resources assistant.

The seventh recommendation was amended to engage an outside employment/labor firm or certified professional to deliver executive briefings/trainings to town management and the board covering the following: discriminatory and sexual harassment prevention; respectful workplace communication, code of conduct, state ethics laws; and customer service training, to name a few. The board will consider taking these actions and take advantage of the ones they think they want to go forward with. Oney suggested they start by asking human resources to request the current policies and considerations.

The eighth recommendation will offer employee assistance support and services to the town administrator and staff. Oney asked the human resources assistant to find out which types of assistance are available before the board discusses this further.

The ninth recommendation was to offer individualized training to Hull on respectful workplace discourse. Oney said she can work with the human resources assistant to compile a list of available training and the board will present those to Hull.

“Don’t waste your time,” said Hull. When Oney told Hull she was out of order, Hull replied, “I’m trying to save money.”

The 10th recommendation was to engage an outside professional to offer ongoing mentoring and coaching to the town administrator. Oney said they should task Wolowicz with talking to other town administrators and organizations in which she belongs and provide the board with other alternatives to review.

The 12th recommendation was amended and accepted to consider seeking guidance from outside counsel in the event the board feels they aren’t receiving enough information from the current town counsel regarding appropriateness and guidelines. Oney said she has been in contact with town counsel to receive a written opinion before discussing it further.

Recommendation numbers one, three, 11, 13 and 14 were passed over.
Oney and Morrell approved all recommendations. Hull did not vote on the recommendations, although Oney said she could.

Early voting

Town Clerk Mary Watson said in person, early voting will be offered ahead of the Annual Town Election. This will go from June 5 to 9, during normal business hours of the Town Clerk’s Office - 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Annual Town Election will take place on June 13. The polls will be open at Memorial Hall from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Early vote by mail is required for all local elections unless the town wants to opt out of doing so,” said Watson. Applications for vote by mail are available in the Town Clerk’s Office and on the town’s website. Applications must be done on a yearly basis.

Watson went on to discuss nomination paper procedures. She said nomination papers will be available in her office beginning March 1. The following slate of offices will be available for a three-year term: one seat on the Select Board, one seat for town clerk, one seat for Board of Assessors, one seat for School Committee, one seat for Water/Sewer Commission, one seat for Cemetery Commission, one seat for Parks and Recreation Commission and one seat for Housing Authority, although that is a five-year term.

“Candidates are required to obtain 39 certifiable signatures to be on the ballot, however, we suggest getting more,” said Watson. The deadline to pick up nomination papers is April 21 at 5 p.m.

Once papers are obtained, the deadline to return papers for certification is April 25 at 5 p.m.

Watson asks anyone with questions to call 267-4115.