Don Chase (LCN file)
A physical altercation during the first annual meeting of the Somerville Budget Committee Tuesday, March 25 resulted in misdemeanor charges for two town officials.
Somerville Second Select Board member Don Chase and Somerville Budget Committee member Michael Cox “had some words and an altercation” during a meeting of the budget committee at the town office, according to Lt. Brendan Kane of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Reached by phone on Thursday, March 27, Chase said the meeting was intended to be an introductory evening for this year’s budget committee. However, he said, the discussion turned to Somerville’s town-owned broadband network, which is in the final stages of construction.
Reached by phone on Wednesday, March 26 and Monday, March 31, Cox declined to comment.
During the meeting, there was disagreement among budget committee and audience members over what costs the town had incurred for the project and whether those costs were wrongfully borne by taxpayers, according to Chase.
A committee member and an audience member chose to leave the meeting, and tensions continued to escalate until a verbal confrontation between Chase and Cox became physical, according to Chase.
“It escalated so quickly,” Chase said.
The altercation led to both subjects being charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, or class D, offense. The subjects were summonsed and released, Kane said.
Chase resigned from his position as Second Select Board member on Wednesday, March 26, according to Somerville Town Clerk Russ Gates.
“This is not worth it to me to just take it, and for them to keep pounding on me with misleading stuff,” Chase said. “If it starts escalating to a point where it starts to become a violent situation, it’s not worth it to me.”
Chase said he understood residents were concerned about high taxes in Somerville, but was upset about the proliferation of “blame throwing and misinformation” in town, including information regarding the town’s broadband network and its funding model.
Cox also declined to comment on whether he intended to continue serving on the budget committee.
As of March 31, a discussion with the town’s broadband liaison and acceptance of Chase’s resignation were both on the agenda for the next meeting of the Somerville Select Board, which is set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, at the town office.
