In Plymouth this week a slip of the lip on an open mic causes a Finance Committee member to call for an apology from a Select Board member.
Bobbi Clark files the story:
At their meeting this week, shortly after the select Board voted 4 to 1 against Article 18, a petitioned article by Precinct 12 Town Meeting member Bill Abbott, to fund a study for the Long Beach Gangway, Selectman Chair Dick Quintal called for a ten minute break.
As the Board went to the break, on an open mic, Selectman Harry Helm used an expletive directed at Abbott:
“That…that…wad, Bill..”
At the end of the meeting, during public comment, Helm was taken to task by Finance Committee member Robert Zupperoli, who called for Helm to apologize to Abbott, to the Select Board and to the community. Zupperoli reminded Helm that he is a leader and leaders do not resort to denigrating comments because they disagree with people.
“I would like Mr. Helm to apologize to the community and to the Board for the remarks he made just prior to the break this evening. It was unprofessional, insensitive, unacceptable, rude and insulting
to anyone listening—not to mention the person to whom the comment was directed.”
Select Helm responded with an apology:
“Mr. Zupperoli, and, and residents of Plymouth, I do apologize for that comment. It was, a mistake, obviously, on many levels—not just a mistake in not realizing there was a hot mic, but a, a mistake in sentiment and I do apologize to the person that I was speaking of and most importantly, I apologize to the residents of Plymouth—the folks watching who heard that comment and, of course, to the Board of Selectmen.”
Chairman Dick Quintal made no comment on the matter, however Selectman Charlie Bletzer accepted Helm’s apology on behalf of the Board.
Bill Abbott told WATD that the incident is sad and, further that Helm sounds disturbed. And, Abbott said, he doesn’t know what it is that’s disturbing Helm.
Article 18, having been approved by FinCom, 10 to 2 advances to Town Meeting on April 2nd.
Audio courtesy of PACTV
Photo: Select Board meeting discussed showing Helm upper left of the screen and Abbott center screen.
