Nearly two hours into the Aug. 9 meeting, Selectman Chairman Jerry Stabile Jr. had a police officer escort Cyr Circle resident Mary Carbone out of the building. In the next minute, he announced he will resign.
"If he's going to take me down as his last mission, let it be," said Carbone of Stabile Aug. 10. "Any questions I ask, in my belief, is in the best interest of the community."
Carbone has been a regular at town meetings since 1979.
Stabile had requested a police officer be present for Monday's meeting after he and Carbone exchanged words at the July 26 selectmen's meeting. Voices were raised as Carbone peppered the board with questions July 26, and Stabile said he would have her removed from meetings if she weren't more respectful.
On Aug. 9, he refusedto allow Carbone to ask questions and had her removed after she moved to a podium at the front of the room and asked to be acknowledged.
In announcing his resignation, Stabile said the two events were not related. He encouraged selectmen to continue with his strict stance with Carbone.
"I believe Mary is sincere in her heart. But I've watched her in the last few years, in some ways, perform. Therefore I thought it was time to make a stand," said Stabile. "Meetings are for deliberation of the Board (of Selectmen) ... there is a protocol that has to be followed."
Chairmen have a right to acknowledge - or not acknowledge - whomever they choose, he said.
Through the two-hour meeting, Carbone raised her hand several times. Stabile ignored her, even when she interjected with, "Mr. Chairman, I have a question."
At one point, Carbone and Whittier Street resident John Pasquale, another regular at selectmen meetings, both had hands raised to make a comment. Stabile allowed Pasquale to speak, but not Carbone.
Toward the end of the meeting, Carbone moved to the podium in front of the board and stood silently for close to 10 minutes. At a break in the discussion, she again interjected "Mr. Chairman, I have a question."
Stabile would not recognize her, and Carbone asked why, as a resident, she not allowed to speak.
Stabile did not allow the discussion to escalate, and asked Officer David Carriere to escort Carbone from the meeting.
"It's unfortunate I had to do that," Stabile said afterwards. "Let's see if we can finish (the meeting) and put this behind us."
"I did have questions and I wasn't acknowledged. I know that's the routine, and usually I say, 'Mr. Chairman, I have a question.' It was all set up last night," said Carbone Aug. 10. "This didn't just happen, it has been progressive. Over the years at meetings, I would take little sarcastic remarks. But the bottom line is I've never had this experience (of being escorted out), and it took away my self-esteem."
