Council ousts two from harbor board

WARREN - The town council finished what it started last Wednesday night and, on Monday, removed a Warren Harbor Management Commission member who had refused to resign at the council's request.

After Town Solicitor Anthony DeSisto cited several passages in Warren's Home Rule Charter that he said gives them the authority to do so, the council dismissed Bay Road resident Ned McGreavy from the board that oversees harbor policies and administration. Mr. McGreavy was cited this year for installing a makeshift cinder block mooring to secure a dinghy.

Another harbor board member, Scott Lial, also cited for a mooring violation, submitted his resignation to the town clerk's office last Thursday, the morning after the council asked for his resignation. Neither Mr. Lial nor Mr. McGreavy were present at the council meeting Monday night.

Council President Frank Alfano read Mr. Lial's resignation aloud.

" I commend Mr. Lial for following through. We absolutely cannot micro-manage, but we try to put good people in place. For the most part it's a success," he said.

Councilor Christopher Stanley, who called for the resignation of both Mr. Lial and Mr. McGreavy last week, said the town should send Mr. McGreavy a letter thanking him for past services, "but no thanks" to his decision to remain on the harbor board. Shortly after, the council voted for his removal.

In a telephone conversation before Monday night's meeting, Mr. McGreavy said he would not send the council a letter of resignation and called his imminent expulsion "a slap in the face."

Mr. McGreavy said he was wrong to install a cinder block with a line near shore to hold a dinghy, for which he was cited and paid a $100 fine.

"I'm not denying that I'm wrong. I should have challenged it, but let's not split hairs," he said of his infraction.

Mr. McGreavy said he was particularly peeved that Mr. Lial was asked to step down for the same offense he said was committed by Councilor James McCanna. Mr. McGreavy contends that, like Mr. Lial, Mr. McCanna has tied his boat to moorings that are not his own.

Responding to the charge, Mr. Alfano said Warren Harbormaster Matthew Calouro investigated the allegations, but could find no basis for the accusation.

"Matt Calouro dealt with all the issues," said Mr. Alfano. "We have responded to his (Mr. McGreavy) complaints."

Mr. McGreavy said that's untrue and that though clearly in violation of a number of rules, Mr. McCanna has ever been cited because of his position on the council.

"The fact of the matter is, Calouro is in bed with them," he said, adding that the council was "pointing its self-righteous fingers" at he and Mr. Lial, but looking the other way for a fellow council member.

Heated exchange on Wednesday

The discussion of the alleged infractions by two harbor board members and the council's request for their resignations first occurred last Wednesday during a joint meeting of the harbor management commission and town council that ended with Mr. McGreavy storming out.

Mr. Alfano began that meeting addressing a complaint from a couple who said Mr. Lial had illegally tied his boat to their mooring over the summer and, though fined $100, was not dismissed from the board.

When asked, Mr. Calouro said Mr. Lial had violated the law and had been fined at a harbor board meeting. He also said a second board member, Mr. McGreavy, had been cited and paid a fine for the cinder block mooring.

"It looks pretty bad when the commission members who are supposed to be making the laws are violating the laws," Mr. Alfano said.

Standing before the council, Mr. Lial, who had been on the harbor board for only a few months, apologized for the "misunderstanding." He said he initially believed the mooring at the end of Beach Street was abandoned.

"I made a mistake, I was wrong. I would like to continue on the commission," he said.

But Mr. Stanley was not satisfied.

"I have serious reservations. I am extremely disappointed. I think it is incumbent on this board to ask for your resignation. You want good, clean government, it starts here," he said.

Mr. Alfano agreed.

"There's been some arrogance here on the committee. Everybody does what they want. You guys tell us that. ... This is a very, very serious situation," he said.

Mr. Lial was mum on the request to resign, but Mr. McGreavy spoke out.

"I will not tender my resignation at this time, not until the council takes this position with members of other commissions and boards," said Mr. McGreavy, alluding to complaints he has made about violations committed by others on town boards and the "discretionary nature of enforcement" in town.

The councilors told Mr. McGreavy he was wrong and that all matters brought before them had been investigated, including the complaint against Mr. McCanna.

"And there's a difference," said Mr. Stanley. "Jim (Mr. McCanna) was elected by the townspeople. Harbor board members are appointed. We appointed you, and we are asking you to step aside."

Removed from office

These two men are no longer Warren Harbor Management Commission members.

Ned McGreavy: Removed from the board against his wishes; he was cited for illegally securing a dinghy to a cinder block on shore; he paid $100 fine.

Scott Lial: Resigned from the board per town council request; he was cited for illegally tying up to someone else's mooring; also paid $100 fine.

BY DENISE KINNEY

dkinney@eastbaynewspapers.com

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