DALTON, Mass. — The Americans with Disabilities Act committee elected Patrick Pettit as chair and John Curro as vice chair following a heated discussion surrounding the meeting minutes during its most recent meeting.

 

The dispute stemmed from the decision to table the election of officers during the April 23 meeting. That decision was made without a motion by a committee member or an official vote from the committee. 

 

During the April meeting, ADA coordinator Alyssa Maschino recommended that the agenda item be tabled as Pettit was absent but previously expressed an interest in being chair.  

 

"I originally had put elect chair and vice chair on [the agenda,] but without Pat Pettit here, as he wanted to run for one of these two, I feel like perhaps we should table it. I am not OK with trying to make points on his behalf or anyone else," Maschino said. 

 

Committee member Lynn Clements agreed with Maschino but an official vote did not take place. 

 

At the May meeting, committee member Rachel Branch recommended amending the April 23 meeting minutes to include the following: "The ADA Coordinator tabled the agenda item on the election of chair and vice chair without a motion from an ADA committee member, without a discussion, and without a vote."

 

The approved minutes said the agenda item to elect the chair and vice chair was "tabled until all members are present. Interest from P.Pettit and R.Branch." 

 

All the other committee members shot down Branch's amendment down, citing that she did not express her concerns at the time of the meeting. 

 

Clements said she agreed to table the election agenda item during the last meeting because not all committee members were present. 

 

Branch said although that was the case, the committee had a quorum. Pettit, who was not at the April meeting, responded that a statement was made then that the agenda item was going to be tabled and Branch did not express any concerns or opposition.

 

"If you had spoken up and said something, then judgement probably would have been brought forward, but you didn't speak up," he said. 

 

Branch said in an interview later that she had a right to clarify the minutes because the procedure went against Robert's Rules of Order, whether or not she spoke against decision.

 

Meeting minutes can be amended to correct errors or clarify actions before they are approved.

 

Robert's Rules is the standard guide for conducting meetings and making decisions. According to the rules, a motion must be made and seconded by a committee members to be considered. 

 

This did not happen during the April 23 meeting, Branch said. "I was very surprised at the last meeting that [Maschino] tabled that and there was a quorum present." 

 

Clements said at the May meeting she could see an issue with this if the committee had elected someone without all the members present, but the item was tabled. Everyone is present now, so it doesn't matter, she said.

 

"What matters is that the whole group is here now to make informed decisions on who we vote for and who's interested in running," she said.

 

The board elected Pettit as the chair, citing his extensive knowledge of the buildings, town, and ADA laws. 

 

He is a licensed construction supervisor with the state and has experience working for Dalton as the former building and grounds superintendent and currency works for Pittsfield Housing Authority. His appointment passed 4-1, with Branch voting against. 

 

Branch said in the later interview that his experience did not excuse the mistreatment she endured at the May meeting. 

 

"I believe I was battered and bullied at that meeting, and I think I had a perfect right to make a clarification to the minutes because [Maschino] is not a committee member," Branch said. 

 

Pettit does not live or work in Dalton, Branch also said.

 

In February, the Select Board voted to allow nonresidents to volunteer on town committees. This is a decision that Branch said she totally disagrees with. 

 

When the board approved Pettit's appointment, Branch collected her things and left.

 

Pettit then motioned to have John Curro elected vice chair. 

 

Clements said Curro would make a good vice chair due to his experience and because Curro and Pettit work well together at the Pittsfield Housing Authority. He was elected unanimously by the remaining members. 

 

When Branch left, committee members expressed confusion about whether she would return and said they hoped she was feeling OK.

 

Branch later confirmed that she is not leaving her seat on the ADA Committee. She highlighted her experience advocating for ADA rights, serving on multiple committees, and spearheading various initiatives, including the fight against climate change since 1997, as well as efforts to combat rape. 

 

She stated that she does not tolerate abuse from anyone and that Pettit was out of line. She is currently deciding on if there are any next steps to be taken.