ORANGE — Tensions were high at Wednesday’s Selectboard meeting, as the clerk walked out after being denied the vice chair position and accusing board members of colluding against her.

The Selectboard was reorganizing following Monday’s annual town election. Pat Lussier appeared surprised when outgoing Chair Jane Peirce asked for a motion naming Vice Chair Tom Smith as the new chair, Andrew Smith as the new vice chair and keeping Lussier as clerk. The motion was made by Tom Smith and seconded by member Richard Sheridan.

Peirce said Lussier does not attend many municipal meetings and had not proven herself a leader.

“I’m interested in a strong leadership team because we have a transition year,” Peirce said, referring to Town Administrator Gabriele Voelker’s retirement, “and I think that Tom, with Andrew’s backup, can do that.”

Peirce then addressed Lussier.

“Pat, you’ve been here for a couple years,” she said. “To my mind, you’ve not truly fulfilled the job that you have already had assigned to you. Andrew has done more than he ever got assigned to. Tom has certainly done more than he was ever assigned to. I’m only interested in getting the job done, with a strong leadership team. So that’s why that’s my proposal.”

A divided board

Lussier argued she has demonstrated great leadership in her three years on the Selectboard. She initially ran in 2020 to fulfill a term vacated by William Wrigley and ran unopposed for reelection. She has two years remaining on a three-year term.

“If I don’t attend other meetings, so be it. ... I attend some of them. I don’t attend every one of them, no I don’t. I don’t feel it’s necessary. I don’t think any of the other board members attend other meetings on a regular basis, outside of this one,” she said. “And so for me to be expected to, I think, is unfair.”

Lussier said she has attended Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) meetings, among others, adding that her obligation is to Orange’s taxpayers.

Lussier told Peirce she has been “divisive” and has “caused so much trouble within this board.” She also said Monday’s election results prove residents do not approve of Peirce’s “tactics.” Peirce and Tom Smith were reelected to three-year seats on the Selectboard with 145 and 158 votes, respectively.

“Well, I think you just demonstrated why I think these guys are better leaders than you,” Peirce told Lussier.

Andrew Smith asked Tom Smith if he was willing to amend his motion in a way to make Tom the chair, Lussier the vice chair and Andrew the clerk. The Smiths are not related. Tom Smith, who did not rescind or amend his motion, said the inter-board bickering is “part of the problem.”

Peirce argued Lussier is the Selectboard’s liaison to the Finance Committee but has not attended any meetings, though Lussier disputes this. As she packed up her belongings to leave, she told her colleagues they had a well-orchestrated plan.

“There was no plan. Actually, I was taken aback,” Andrew Smith said. “I was quite shocked, to be honest.”

Peirce asked Lussier if she wanted to vote on the motion before she left and Lussier declined.

“That’s most unfortunate,” Andrew Smith said about Lussier’s departure.

Peirce agreed with Andrew Smith and fought back tears as she apologized and said the town needs strong leadership.

Andrew Smith and Tom Smith voted in favor of the motion while Sheridan voted against it and Peirce abstained. Peirce then handed over the meeting to Tom Smith, who thanked Peirce for her time served as chair and said he may lean on her for support in his new role.

During the portion of the meeting designated for public comment, resident Ann Reed, speaking remotely, criticized the “parliamentary mess” that unfolded.

“That was not a good scene. It was not good for the town. It was not good for morale,” she said. “Pat did not deserve that. She has served the town very well.”

After the meeting

Speaking with the Greenfield Recorder on Thursday, Lussier explained her rationale for leaving the meeting.

“I wasn’t going to dignify that meeting with my presence,” she said, adding that it was “a very well-orchestrated, brutal attack. But it’s going to take a lot more than that to get rid of me.

“My thoughts are that I made a commitment to the people of Orange that I take very seriously and I feel that I have represented them to the best of my ability,” she continued. “My focus and my priority are the taxpayers and the voters of Orange and I have had my share of skirmishes … in my efforts to protect the best interests of the town.”

Lussier said she is fully dedicated to her responsibilities as a Selectboard member. She said she has served on search and steering committees and opted to run for Selectboard to help the town. Lussier, who moved from New Salem to Orange six years ago, has not thought about whether she will resume or reject the duties of Selectboard clerk.

“I’m going to say this — I won’t be controlled, and that does not sit well with certain people,” she said.

Peirce told the Recorder she has no personal gripe with Lussier but feels Andrew Smith is better suited for the vice-chair position.

“Andrew has been a very strong team member. He has practically been a partner with [Superintendent Colin Killay] at the Highway Department,” she said, adding that Smith has attended all meetings pertaining to updates at the wastewater treatment plant. “And I believe he will be very good support for Tom.

“I don’t mean to criticize Pat,” Peirce continued, “but Andrew has been a lot more active in town government.”

Tom Smith said he was surprised by the direction Wednesday’s meeting took.

“It’s not something that I think anybody would have expected,” he said Thursday.

The Selectboard is slated to meet again on March 22.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.

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