Ogunquit News
Tramuto challenges Board of Selectmen on committee appointments
By C. Ayn Douglass
OGUNQUIT - Selectmen were charged with appointing three members to the seven-member Marginal Way Committee last Tuesday evening, but what should have been nothing more than routine business became heated when Selectman Donato Tramuto challenged the board for not conducting interviews of the nominees and for not welcoming new blood on town boards and committees.Tramuto nominated Bernadine Speers for a three-year appointment to the Marginal Way Committee and failed to get a second on the nomination.
Selectman John Abbott then appointed Budget Review Committee member Loring DeAgazio as a "very capable and excellent" nomination on the basis of his grant-writing ability. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Jackie Bevins.
Tramuto accused the board of nepotism - although Bernadine Speers is the wife of Selectman Jon Speers - and challenged the board to branch out and invite other people to serve on town committees.
"When is this board going to open up and invite new members?" he questioned. "This is very disappointing to me. We continue to go to the same individuals. (We need) to open up and expand our horizons."
Chairman John Miller responded to Tramuto by saying he was just angry "because you don't get your own way."
Tramuto said that was not the case.
"I take offense at that," he said. "If you talk to the public, the public will agree on this. We have a lot of repairing to do. Marginal Way Committee is very upset by this. This is the number one issue I hear in this town. New people bring new ideas and I made a commitment for fair representation and to broaden the (vision). We committed to interview (applicants) and once again, we didn't do it."
Tramuto said by not interviewing all the candidates, the board wasn't recognizing the talents each of them may have, including grant writing.
DeAgazio was appointed for the three-year term in a 4-1 vote with Tramuto voting in the negative.
Newcomer Tina Virgin was appointed by a unanimous vote to a one-year membership to the Marginal Way Committee.
School Committee member Carrie Charpentier was also appointed, although Tramuto was the dissenting vote against Charpentier on the basis that she had refused a committee appointment in the past - a statement which Charpentier denied during the public forum.
"I need to clarify for my own reputation," she said, "that I've never turned down an appointment and have served on committees and completed my (term) and was commended by the town for it."
Tramuto said he had nothing personal against Charpentier, only the process, which he said still lacks structure.
"I campaigned for you, put a sign on my lawn and voted for you, but there are scores of people who have tried to get on (committees) and I campaigned on process and interview is part of that," he said. "I'll stick by that 'til the day I leave office."
Miller said the nature of the Marginal Way Committee allows it to bring on board as non-voting members anyone they feel would be beneficial in the capacity as advisors or consultants and encouraged the applicants who were not elected to participate in activities associated with the committee.
"There's nothing to stop the appointment of willing workers," he said.
Contact staff writer C. Ayn Douglass at cayndouglass@yorkindependent.net.
