We Must Not Tolerate Vulgarity Or Bullying: Chelmsford Leaders

CHELMSFORD, MA — In the days after Chelmsford Select Board member Emily Antul abruptly resigned following her use of a gendered insult against a finance committee meeting, the head of three town boards representing the committees present at the meeting called on elected officials and public servants to exercise civility in a manner similar to what schools ask of students.

"Each child is asked to exemplify the ideals of Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Empathy," the letter —signed by chair of the Select Board Ken Lefebvre, chair of the Finance Committee Jim Clancy, and chair of the School Committee Dennis King— read.

"Our Town’s boards and committees would do well to review these ideals and to ensure that we are conducting ourselves as examples " they wrote.

The board officials representing the three committees present at the Jan. 11 joint meeting said the challenges of the past year and the stress that comes along with them should not affect the level of public discourse expected of the town's public servants.

"Our discussions and debates should be conducted with an appropriate level of professionalism and from a mutual place of respect," they wrote.

The three heads of boards said that while the volunteers that step forward to serve on town boards and committees should continue to be passionate in their advocating to make the town a better place, with a caveat.

"In doing so, we cannot condone or allow for words that flow from a place of disrespect or ignorance," they wrote. "We must not tolerate vulgarity or bullying. And, perhaps most importantly, such actions cannot take place and should never be tolerated in a public forum."

When the vulgar name-calling occurred during the meeting earlier this month, it was meant with a shocked silence.

"Both actions and inactions have real consequences," they wrote. "We acknowledge that the unfortunate events that transpired Monday evening were not appropriate and will never be acceptable. As board and committee members, we also take on the renewed responsibility of living up to the ideals of perseverance, respect, integrity, dedication, and empathy, and promise to hold each other accountable to these ideals as we work together to make Chelmsford a place we are all proud to call home."

Previously: Chelmsford Select Board Member Resigns After Slur