Tiverton Councilor Lebeau explodes at meeting, stages loud opposition

Doesn't want Pelletier as monitor of abutment project

By Tom Killin Dalglish
Posted 7/16/18

TIVERTON — The controversy came out of nowhere.

The Tiverton council agenda for its regular meeting of Monday, June 25, had called for "discussion and action on the completion of the Stone Bridge Abutment project," and newly installed Town Administrator Jan Reitsma had recommended the appointment of former Town Councilor Brett Pelletier to serve as "Project Manager"— as a volunteer — during the winding up of the abutment renovation.

"I had no idea that this would become a major discussion point," said Mr.Reitsma, after the town council by a 5-2 vote, approved Mr. Pelletier's appointment.

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Tiverton Councilor Lebeau explodes at meeting, stages loud opposition

Doesn't want Pelletier as monitor of abutment project

Posted

TIVERTON — The controversy came out of nowhere. 
The Tiverton council agenda for its most recent regular meeting of Monday, June 25, had called for "discussion and action on the completion of the Stone Bridge Abutment project," and newly installed Town Administrator Jan Reitsma had recommended the appointment of former Town Councilor Brett Pelletier to serve as "Project Manager"— as a volunteer — during the winding up of the abutment renovation.
"I had no idea that this would become a major discussion point," said Mr.Reitsma, after the town council by a 5-2 vote, approved Mr. Pelletier's appointment.
Construction on the long-awaited, and much needed, $1.8 million Stone Bridge abutment renovation project is in its final stages, with completion set for this fall — perhaps as early as September.
All town councilors, except for Councilors John Edwards and Randy Lebeau, voted in favor of the appointment.
It was an explosive meeting, due largely to the antics of Councilor Randy Lebeau, who — objecting to Mr. Pelletier's appointment — waved and flailed his arms in the air, spoke loudly over (or interrupted) others who were speaking in favor of the idea, and then mimed playing a violin when Council Patricia Hilton spoke on Mr. Pelletier's behalf.
Apart from Ms. Hilton, who said she was "appalled" by Mr. Lebeau's comments — to which Mr. Lebeau rocked back in his chair, arms in the air, and said loudly "you're always appalled" — no other council members, except for Council President Denise deMedeiros, who struggled to keep the discussion on track, spoke against Mr. Lebeau's antics.
He's a large man, and with his sweeping arm gestures, anger, and loud voice, dominated the meeting for fifteen minutes or so.
Why appoint Mr. Pelletier?
What brought Mr. Pelletier to the fore, was the unexpected recent departure of Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Bill Anderson, a civil engineer who'd been overseeing the abutment project on behalf of the town. Mr. Anderson left to take an identical position in Swansea, at higher pay. To further strain the town's and DPW's resources, DPW's chief mechanic also left.
Adding to the uncertainty was the very recent appointment in the spring of incoming Town Administrator, Jan Reitsma. Knowledgable town oversight of the Stone Bridge project during its final few months was therefore needed. Mr. Pelletier volunteered..
A six-year former town council veteran (2010-2016), Mr. Pelletier, 34, had been the former Chairman of the Stone Bridge Abutment Ad Hoc Subcommittee. As the lead committee member, he'd negotiated and liaised with all the permitting agencies for the project, and their staffs — the Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Management, and the Coastal Resources Management Council among others, and worked with them and town officials, as the complicated project got up and running.
A resident of Tiverton, he works as chief operating officer of a Boston real estate investing firm. A graduate in finance from Bentley University, he's currently a candidate for a Masters degree in finance at Harvard extension.
Brett "knows this project inside and out," Mr. Reitsma told the council, "he knows a lot more about it than I do," and has "been the chair of that committee." And the town already has "an independent consulting engineer that is overseeing the project," he said.
"Brett is more than willing to do this, and I'm very grateful," said Council President Denise
deMedeiros.
But Councilor John Edwards wasn't buying it. "The title of project manager concerns me a little," he said. He noted Mr. Pelletier was not an engineer, as the departing Bill Anderson was, "and I strongly object" for that reason.
Councilor Lebeau enters the debate
This was about when Councilor Lebeau weighed in. Noting that Mr. Pelletier had been on the planning board, and had recently left it, Mr. Lebeau said, "he can't just go jumping around. I don't think we need him. I don't support him whatsoever."
Councilor deMedeiros said Mr. Pelletier now had the time and was very familiar with the project. Councilor Patricia Hilton raised her hand to speak.
But Lebeau continued. "You're putting this kid into a project that's 70 percent completed," he said. "And he's not an engineer."
"It's a vicious cycle in Tiverton, " he said, now speaking very loudly. "The same things go around and around. It's a merry-go-round, And now you put this guy back on the merry-go-round."
"Are we going to have engineers answering to this kid?"
Of Mr. Lebeau's loud objection, Council Hilton said she was appalled.
"You're always appalled," Mr. Lebeau said. Someone, evidently to Mr. Lebeau's left because he looked in that direction (Mr. Reitsma later said it was he), seemed to have asked Mr. Lebeau to calm down.
"No, I'm not calming down. It's bullshit," he said, now shouting, throwing his hands high in the air, then pointing across in front of Councilor Edwards' face with his right arm towards Councilor Hilton.
"I'm not going to speak unless Randy's going to control himself here," Councilor Hilton said. "I'm not going to be interrupted every four seconds."
"Why don't we let Trish [Councilor Hilton] talk?" Council President deMedeiros said.
"Oh yeah," Mr. Lebeau said, throwing his hands high in the air, again. "It's always Trish who gets to talk."
Councilor Hilton then began to talk, after being recognized by President deMedeiros, but again she was interrupted by Councilor Lebeau.
"I never once get to finish anything before somebody butts in — back up the tape. Take a listen (said while continuing to wave his arms in the air.) Go ahead, Trish, the floor's all yours, like always."
At this point, Town Administrator Reitsma says again — that Mr. Pelletier "knows the project inside and out," that "it's important to have some oversight," and "to help us troubleshoot."
Councilor Hilton then made a motion "'to appoint Brett as project manager, assuming after this discussion he'd even be willing to do that."
"I hope not," shouted Mr., Lebeau.
"Brett's probably as well versed in the intricacies of the design" — Ms. Hilton begins to say — while Mr. Leabeau again waved his hands and arms in the air, pantomiming someone playing a violin — "and he's very familiar with the permitting process," she said.
"His background is in commercial real estate, and he understands how projects work," Ms. Hilton said. "There's nobody there keeping an eye on the purse strings on all this — change orders, contractor changes, etc. — there has to be somebody there monitoring the progress and protecting the town's interests. Brett graciously agreed to help."
"I hope not," Mr. Lebeau said loudly.
"If this helps the town administrator," said Councilor Joan Chabot, "I support it."
"My vote against is because we don't have the details in front of us," Mr. Edwards said.
The vote was taken, and by a 5-2 vote, Mr. Pelletier was approved to oversee the project to completion.

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