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09/01/2015 02:15 PMWould the Police Commission act on a Democratic Town Committee (DTC) petition asking for a review of Police Chief Michael Spera’s widely publicized conduct at an October 2014 Board of Finance (BOF) meeting?
That was the question on the minds of the many in the crowded meeting room at Town Hall last week when the Police Commission held its first public meeting since April 27.
The DTC Petition to the Police Commission, filed on May 21, 2015, asked that the commission consider a “disciplinary investigation” of Spera’s behavior at that BOF meeting where the board considered whether to support town funding for a police boat. At issue is the propriety of the chief’s strong remarks challenging the BOF’s initial vote and suggesting he would pack the town meeting on the boat funding with supporters of the police boat.
That’s where there is a difference of opinion.
Where DTC members saw the chief’s comments to the BOF as “threatening or disrespectful,” others, including most members of the Police Commission, saw instead a department chief’s passionate defense of his position—and no foul.
Spera’s strongly held belief was that the Department of Police Services needed a new police boat to patrol the waters of the Connecticut River as the department had done for more than 30 years. In his view, a town contribution of $91,000 to match a federal grant and secure a fully equipped police boat worth $273,000 was a good deal for the town’s taxpayers, though the townspeople did not agree.
The referendum vote was two to one against using $91,000 in town funds as a federal boat grant match. Some voters said widely circulated video of Spera’s October 2014 challenging the BOF members influenced their decision.
As the Aug. 24 Police Commission meeting began, the polarization of viewpoints was apparent in some public comments that praised the work Spera did while acknowledging he is not always likable.
A psychologist who had worked with the chief and two other speakers said they had known Spera for many years or, for the two residents, most of their lives. Two acknowledged they had their disagreements with Spera, but said they support the work he’s done as chief and that of the department’s dedicated officers.
J. Colin Heffernan of the DTC, on the other hand, urged the commission to consider the DTC complaint.
“An appropriate investigation of the complaint is what is warranted here,” said Heffernan.
The Police Commission entered executive session to discuss the issue under the advice of Town and Police Commission Attorney Michael Cronin, who said, “The issue is to review the contents of the petition from the DTC. The reason [for the executive session] is for a discussion of personnel issues and the performance of a Police Department employee.”
Spera confirmed that he agreed the commission’s discussion should take place in executive session.
Police Commissioner Adam Stuart pressed Chairman Bob Finch to ask the chief to first provide a report or official record of the incident in question before the commission discussed the petition; Finch responded that he was not comfortable speaking about personnel issues in a public session.
“We have to make what we’re doing legal,” said Finch.
After a 30-minute executive session, the commission re-opened the public commission meeting and Stuart made a motion to request a written report on the incident from the chief. That motion died for lack of a second.
Commissioner Christina Burnham then made a motion that the Police Commission take no further action with respect to the DTC letter received on May 21, 2015. That motion was seconded and passed by a vote of six to one, with Stuart as the sole “Nay” vote.
Also at the Aug. 24 meeting, former commissioner Vito Savino was replaced by Brian Coppes, appointed in August to fill the open slot by the Board of Selectmen. Long-serving Police Commissioner Ernest Sparaco was chosen by the commission to serve as vice-chairman, a slot Savino had held.