Last Wednesday June 24, around 13:30 hours, I was on my way to the clerk’s office to pickup some documents. There was nobody in the clerk’s office and I took a quick look at the so called “Principal Official Bulletin Board” located in the foyer upstairs to learn about upcoming meetings. I did not see any. I proceeded downstairs to leave when I noticed voices coming from the meeting room downstairs. I opened the door which was ajar. The three selectmen were sitting around the conference table and Kristin LaPlante was standing in front of the table. “Do you need me?” she asked friendly as always. I answered in the affirmative. On the way upstairs I asked:
“Are they having another illegal unannounced selectboard meeting?” She denied it and claimed that the meeting was posted as required by law. When asked what the meeting was all about, she informed me that the three selectmen discussed whether they want to keep Vincent McCaughey as the town counsel.
I can only guess what the issues are that prompted the debate among the Board of Selectmen. For years I have seen Vincent McCaughey repeatedly defending indefensible lawsuits consistent with Earl Johnson’s and other town official’s personal agendas instead of doing his job informing them what the law is, and advising them to act accordingly.
I have yet to see one lawsuit or appeal that McCaughey won or is going to win while representing the town Of Holland. If there is one, I encourage everybody to let the readers of the Holland Blog know by leaving a comment. (Please include the docket number of the case).
Whether Vincent J. McCaughey subscribes to being ignorant about the law or corrupt is irrelevant. His conduct is not only creating hardships for individuals of our community including myself in having to defend themselves and/or having to file suits to protect their legal rights; his conduct is costing the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of dollars.
I would like to see common sense and adherence to the oath of office as the guiding principles in making the decision about who is going to provide legal services to our town in the future.
Mr. Petersen, it is time for you to step up to the plate and fill the void in leadership on the Board by taking on the position as the chairman of the Board.
Mr. Petersen, would it be reasonable to assume that what is good for Brimfield, Sturbridge, Southbridge, and Wales, would serve our town just right? Surrounding towns on Massachusetts turf, without exception, are customers of Kopelman and Page, P.C. Attorneys at Law. A total of 125 cities and towns throughout Massachusetts choose Kopelman and Page, P.C. for their legal needs, they can’t be all wrong!
Could it be that Holland needs a guy like McCaughey because a reputable firm such as Kopelman and Page, P.C. would give sound legal advice and would reluctantly waste hundreds of thousands of dollars defending indefensible suits to the detriment of the community? Does Earl Johnson and James Wetttlaufer need individuals such as Vincent McCaughey and Kevin Gleason to pursue their personal agendas?
However, McCaughey neither had nor has any part in the ongoing case now before the Appeals Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, whereby the taxpayer is footing the bill for the Johnson family’s fight to prevent the inevitable; to have to move, dismantle or demolish the two illegal dwellings of off Stafford Road built by the Johnson family.
The case became to be know as “Johnson-Landgate.”
It is possible that McCaughey is getting tired to twist the law for Earl Johnson and his cronies and in the process risking his license to practice law.
To read more about the lawsuit against the Johnson family the taxpayer of Holland are paying for, click here!
The question who is ditching who is not important, I hope that the selectboard is making a sound decision based on what is good for the community, and not what is good for Johnson, Wettlaufer and their cronies.
June 27, 2009, Peter Frei