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At the joint meeting of the Select Board and the Sudbury Housing Authority on June 30, three local residents applied for the one open seat on the SHA.
Select Board member Charlie Russo described the work of the Sudbury Housing Authority as “one definition of fanaticism: a fanatic is someone who redoubles efforts while losing sight of original goal.” Well, housing is the SHA’s mission. SHA develops, owns, maintains and manages 28 scattered-site, single-family and duplex rental houses for low-income families, and 64 apartments at Musketahquid Village for people over 60 and people with disabilities. Applicants must meet state income eligibility standards. Under state law, the provision of affordable housing for those priced out of the rental market is what the SHA is supposed to be doing.
Cynthia Howe was voted into the open SHA Commissioner’s seat unanimously by the SHA members and 4 of the 5 Select Board members. I have known Ms. Howe for years and her reputation and professional qualifications are impeccable. Mr. Carty opposed her nomination and disparaged the professional work she had done in other towns, at which point there was an interruption by a member of the SHA. While we can all debate language and interruptions, this one was clearly prompted by the second unnecessary and offensive comment by a member of the Select Board. Having just insulted the professional career of an applicant to a volunteer position, Mr. Carty doubled down in response to the interruption. “I can be nasty too if you want me to be.”
While incivility by any person participating in board deliberations is unacceptable, the threat of it by a member of the Select Board is particularly inappropriate and uncalled for. This is no way to treat residents who have stepped forward in good faith to serve the town. The tone of incivility was set by Select Board members Russo and Carty — members of the joint appointing authority charged with filling this vacancy. That power was used to disparage an applicant, and bully the very people who volunteer to support housing for those in need.
That should concern everyone in this community. Are we a town that stands up against bullying, or a town that tells the victims of bullying to take the abuse silently?
Steven Swanger