ATHOL — Lee Chauvette stepped down as chairman of the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, citing what he described as the board’s disregard for community input regarding proposed regionalization of the town’s dispatching.
Chauvette is a staunch opponent of regionialization and the measures the board took to reach an inter-municipal agreement with Gardner, where Athol’s dispatching services would be handled. He stepped down at Tuesday’s meeting — though he will remain a selectman — because he didn’t receive a second to his motion to exercise the agreement’s opt-out clause with an obligatory 18 months’ notice. Anthony Brighenti, who was vice chairman, took over as chairman.
The plan is to consolidate Athol police and fire dispatch with that of Gardner and operate in a regional emergency communication center in the new Gardner police station. Athol and Gardner entered into an intermunicipal agreement in March 2015. According to information from Athol, the regional center is proposed to “go live” in January 2018.
Chauvette told The Recorder he feels he can no longer lead a board that appears to be out of touch with the community that elected its members.
“I do not understand how any board member can blindly disregard the community input gathered recently and furthermore how can people state they need more information nearly 16 months after they signed the agreement,” he said. “My time is better spent as a regular member continuing to point out how bad of an arrangement the regional dispatch center with Gardner really is. The voters in Athol approved a new police station a few years ago equipped and designed to be a regional dispatch center. The town leadership continues to ignore that fact as well.”
Chauvette said stepping down was “a notion in the back of my mind” going into Tuesday’s meeting and he made his decision after not receiving a second on his motion. He said he has been involved in politics for 33 years and has never seen “this type of activity.”
He voiced a similar sentiment at a public hearing at the Athol Senior Center on Monday.
Brighenti said Chauvette’s decision was unexpected, but it will not disrupt the board’s operation.
Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski said Chauvette ran board meetings efficiently, allowing people to speak while maintaining civility.
“I have been in public service over two decades. I have found that the current and former members of the board that I have worked with have each shown a commitment to the community they serve as the top priority. You cannot ask for more than that,” he said in an e-mail. “There are many other ongoing initiatives and challenges that will require our collective effort to achieve and overcome. I am confident that we will all continue to work together for the betterment of Athol.”