Divided Braintree Town Council Changes Rules For Appointments

Braintree MA

06 November, 2020

2:04 PM

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BRAINTREE, MA — In a contentious decision, the Braintree Town Council adopted new rules that limit the power of the council president and give the members a say over who sits on committees. By a 5-4 vote at Wednesday night's meeting, the council approved an amendment that allows members to undo the council president's appointments with a majority vote. This was the rule District 4 Councilor Stephen O'Brien tried to use last month to remove District 1 Councilor Julia Flaherty as chair of the council's elder affairs and veterans committee. O'Brien made the proposal to remove Flaherty over a Facebook comment made on school committee member Kelly Cobb-Lemire's profile. Several residents said the comments disparaged an elderly veteran. Both Cobb-Lemire and Flaherty have apologized for their posts. The new rule was developed by the council's ordinance and rules committee. At-large Councilor David Ringius chairs the committee and said the change just clarifies an already existing process. But the change brought strong objections from several councilors. Flaherty said the change sets a dangerous precedent and reduces the council president's appoints to nominations. "Committee membership could be reconfigured every two weeks," when the council meets, Flaherty said. Council President Shannon Hume said the process has never been a problem before and that appointments have always followed the requests of individual councilors. At-Large Councilor Charles Ryan, a former council president agreed that this has never been an issue. Councilors that voted for the change included Ringius, O'Brien, District 2 Councilor Steven Sciascia, District 3 Councilor Donna Connors and District 6 Councilor Lawrence Mackin. Flaherty, Ryan, Hume and District 5 Councilor Meredith Boericke were among the councilors to oppose the rule change. The post brought into question by O'Brien earlier this month stemmed from Cobb-Lemire's volunteer work with a local food pantry. "Yesterday, I made a food pantry delivery to a gentleman I don't normally deliver to," Cobb-Lemire posted on her private Facebook page. "He had a 'Veterans for Trump' sign in his window, and then he came out with an NRA shirt on. So wishing I believed in getting rewards in some afterlife." Beneath Cobb-Lemire's post, Flaherty wrote, "Irony Achievement Unlocked." The post angered several residents and caused them to launch a recall effort to remove Cobb-Lemire from her four-year-term on the committee. Cobb-Lemire said she and her family have been threatened following the post. Flaherty apologized again at Tuesday night's council meeting. "I am sorry for the comment I made on the Facebook post," she said. Flaherty also said she is committed to her role as chair and serving the town's veterans and seniors. "For my part, I think that the work of the committee is something the whole committee owes to veterans, only now I think I owe it a little bit more," Flaherty said in an interview with Patch last month. "My intention is to advocate for all veterans in this town."