Hopedale Select Board member Brian Keyes files complaint over colleague's comments
HOPEDALE — Select Board member Brian Keyes has filed a letter of complaint against board Chair Glenda Hazard following comments Hazard made during a board meeting in October.
In the complaint, dated Oct. 31, Keyes wrote that Hazard's statements about him regarding the resignation of former Town Administrator Diana Schindler during an Oct. 24 Select Board meeting were reckless and inappropriate, and mentions taking potential legal action.
"In the discussion of acceptance of the resignation of our town administrator, Diana Schindler, you proceeded to make a direct and blatant statement and accusation against me that I find to be not only wildly inappropriate and unprofessional, but also slanderous and defamatory in nature," the letter states.
Earlier: Hopedale town administrator resigns, says Select Board failed to set goals for her
Keyes said he spoke with town counsel about the matter and was advised to submit the letter.
"I have also informed them that in the coming weeks I will be consulting a personal attorney to evaluate my options of litigation against either you directly or against the Town of Hopedale/You as Madam Chair of the Select Board," Keyes wrote.
When reached by the Daily News, Keyes and Hazard each declined to comment.
During the Oct. 24 meeting, the three-member Select Board (the third member is Bernard Stock) discussed Schindler's resignation and eventually voted unanimously to accept it. During the meeting, Hazard read a letter from Schindler.
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"While I've appreciated the opportunity to work in Hopedale since 2020, given that the Board didn’t fulfill its obligations regarding my contract by not setting goals and objectives for me to implement, it has made it impossible for my performance review and contract renewal to be administered fairly and effectively,” Hazard said in quoting Schindler's letter.
While the board was discussing whether to accept Schindler's resignation, Hazard opined that Keyes and other town officials, whom she did not name, were responsible for Schindler's resignation.
"I can’t help but want to thank Brian Keyes and the band of persistent past and present town officials who have successfully created a hostile work environment for the town administrator," Hazard said at the time. "And I also wanted to thank them for impeding our efforts to get a future town administrator, because I’m sure that any candidate that Googles 'Hopedale' is just going to run in the other direction."
In his complaint, Keyes said Hazard's remarks are not based on any evidence. He added there is no record that suggests Schindler felt as if she was working in a hostile work environment.
"This careless statement is not based on a single shred of evidence and fabricated to your own liking," Keyes wrote. "There has been at no time in the past a time when Diana had a conversation with me, as Chair, saying she felt she was working in a hostile work environment at all, nor is there any record of a complaint being filed with the Select Board or our Town Counsel KP Law. Furthermore, there is also not a single reference to Diana enduring a 'hostile work environment' in her own written resignation letter presented to the Select Board that you read in public."
Complaint not read during Select Board meeting
During a Nov. 21 Select Board meeting, Keyes' letter of complaint was made public as part of the correspondence received by the board. When the board reviewed the correspondence received, Keyes inquired about reading the letter out loud during the meeting after Hazard said the Select Board had received it.
"Are you going to read that complaint?" Keyes asked during the meeting.
"No, it's in the packet," Hazard replied.
"Can I read the complaint?" Keyes asked.
"No, it's in the packet," Hazard answered.
Keyes then asked if he could provide an explanation or context to what the letter was about. Hazard replied by saying that because the letter mentions potential legal action, it shouldn't be discussed. Keyes then asked town counsel if they could comment on it, with a member of town counsel replying that it is up to the chair (Hazard) on how to proceed.
"I guess I will just live with being censored on it," Keyes said. "More to come on it, I urge everyone to go to the correspondence and read the letter. You'll get the direct quote, go to the actual video of the meeting and hear the comments for yourself. You are right, there is a threat of litigation because I am very upset, it was completely over the line. And I just thought that the residents would like to know the reasons for the complaint."
Hazard responded by saying the reasons are clearly stated in the complaint. Keyes disagreed.
"I guess people would probably want to know the root of your fabrication, of the root of the accusation, but I guess that isn't as clear. I guess I should have put that in the letter," he said.
Hazard said she didn't feel like it would benefit the town or anyone involved to go into further detail.
"I think me not outlining why that wasn't a fabrication, is not in the town's best interest, or my best interest or even your best interest," she said to Keyes. "I'm not going to do that in public session, and since we are clearly not on the same side, it wouldn't be fodder for executive session either."
The Select Board next meets on Dec. 12.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Hopedale Select Board member threatens legal action against chair
