Brockton Enterprise 10/24/2006

Boards Appoint

New chairman

to health board

• Roger Atkinson will complete the term in office that ends in April vacated by Anthony Pignone.

By Allan Stein

ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT

ABINGTON — Selectmen and health board members on Mon­day appointed Roger Atkinson to fill the seat vacated by Chairman Anthony Pignone, who resigned Oct. 3.

Selectmen voted unanimously in favor of the appointment, while health board members were split, 2-2. Members Susan Brennan and Kathy Sulmonte voted for Atkinson, William Creighton and Christine Hickey voted against.

Atkinson, a former two-term Board of Health member, filed his application on Oct. 4, a day after Pignone resigned because of a change in residency.

Former Personnel Board member Anne Welch submitted her name for the seat Friday af­ternoon after the Oct. 13 deadline set by the town charter.

In accordance with the char­ter, the boards had three options: Vote to appoint Atkinson, recog­nize Welch as a late arrival past the deadline or leave the seat va­cant until the April election.

Atkinson has said he will run for the position whether he is ap­pointed to fill the unexpired term or not.

Town Counsel Shawn Cotter said that posting of the vacancy and the 10-day period for accept­ing applications were done cor­rectly.

However, acting health board chairman Creighton said he dis­agreed with that interpretation of the charter, saying the process did not officially begin until the board's Oct. 16 meeting.

"It was my thought that we have to notify you as a board," through the health agent, Creighton said.

He said that because of the "misunderstanding" the joint meeting should consider both candidates.

Selectman Thomas Corbett, citing the health board's "rocky" performance over the past year, said the board needed to bring "balance" with members repre­senting "multiple disciplines."

Selectman Joseph Murray rec­ommended a new search for can­didates.

"It's blatantly clear that there have been some challenges with having things executed with the Board of Health," Murray said.

Selectman Robert E. Wing said that in "past practice," joint appointments followed a manda­tory application period and dead­line. He said he saw no reason for it to change.

Since 2005, the health board has been rife with tension and po­litical infighting. The situation came to a head last November when Michelle Roberts, the health agent, filed a sexual ha­rassment complaint against Pignone.

In her complaint, she accused Pignone of creating a hostile work environment and using in­appropriate language with fe­male employees. Two days later, Pignone alleged that cash was missing in the health board of­fice.

An independent investigator hired by the town manager is looking into the allegations.

Town officials said the ongo­ing controversy and bad blood has stymied the board from doing its job.

"I can't see us sitting back. We've got to move on" and "get this thing over with," Selectman Jerry Corcoran said.

Atkinson, after the vote, said board reorganization on Thurs­day will be his "first order of busi­ness."