By Theresa Knapp 

After the Select Board’s contentious Dec. 13, 2021, meeting, resident Jayme Solomon-Zissu filed an Open Meeting Law Violation complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. She claimed Select Board Chair Brian Keyes’ “belittlement and denigration of other board members and citizens was abhorrent” and bordered on bullying. 

Complainant’s original email, in part... 

I want to express my disappointment and disgust at the tone and tenor that was in the select board meeting that was held on 12/13. The belittlement and denegration [sic] of other board members and citizens was abhorrent. It came off as bullying even if that was not the intent. Tone matters. They way things are said and words chosen matter. Maybe you need to take a beat and a breath before you say something. A little measure goes a long way…I was ashamed at the behavior of all involved even if you weren’t. It came off as childish, petty, and counterproductive… 

Keyes response, in part… 

Good morning, At this point I could honestly care less about your opinion. You are loud and have something negative to say about everything we do. The emotion and enthusiasm on both sides beyond the board come off as strong some times but people tend to get frustrated when there is constant misinformation, misstatement of  fact and constant insults and accusations. If you think you can do a better job, put your name on a ballot and run. We are more than free to express our thoughts, our opinions, and it we want to talk or discuss the content or actions of a fellow member we are allowed to. Having a board member tell another to “give it a rest” is abhorrent and disrespectful behavior, you are right. But we both know you are not referring to that. You don’t like what we have to say because it doesn’t play or support your narrative or cause. Too bad… 

Full narratives are available at www.hopedale-ma.gov/ 

In his response, Keyes also said, “You sit there and complain that there is no public comment or interaction and then send me this nonsense when there is and it’s spirited.” Solomon-Zissu did not mention public comment in her complaint to the Attorney General. 

In a Jan. 7 letter, Town Counsel Brian W. Riley said the Open Meeting Law was not violated and “the Complaint does not state any provision of the Open Meeting Law that was allegedly violated.” He also says the law does not require a public comment period at Select Board meetings and notes “a board chair may allow one, not allow one, or end it at his discretion.” 

At its meeting on Jan. 10, the Select Board voted to send Town Counsel’s response to the complainant and the Attorney General’s Office, and also reviewed a draft Code of Conduct and Ethics that was drafted by Select Board member Louis Arcudi III who said he received similar conduct complaints during his individual Select Board member office hours in December. 

The full complaint and proposed Code of Conduct and Ethics can be found on the Select Board’s website on its Jan. 10 meeting packet https://www.hopedale-ma.gov/administrator-select-board