PARIS — Members of the Norway-Paris Solid Waste Board defended their request to remove a director on Monday, but Paris selectmen said they would stand by the appointment.

Five members of the seven-member panel voted last month to refuse recognition of Paris resident Janet Jamison as a director on the quasi-municipal board, which oversees the disposal of solid waste generated in Norway and Paris. The board also requested that Paris selectmen rescind Jamison’s appointment, citing “unethical and extremely biased comments” about the Brown Street transfer station manager and employees, and “public innuendos and false accusations” against board members.

The main charge of the board involves Jamison’s criticism of Margaret Cedroni, manager of the transfer station, at the Aug. 10 meeting of the Paris selectmen. Al Atkinson, president of the board, said the action left the board open for a lawsuit because Cedroni was not present.

 
Paris selectmen voted last month to recognize Jamison, as well as other appointees to the board. Three selectmen appeared at Monday’s meeting, where Atkinson accused Jamison of hindering board operations and regularly insulting board members.

“Us three here are appointees, and we happen to be the majority, and all three of us voted that we don’t want her here,” Atkinson said. “So, if you’re going to support all of the appointees, you should support us as well.”

Atkinson also said he did not believe that the NPSW board should be subject to insults due to its volunteer nature. David Ivey, chairman of the selectmen, said that Jamison “needs to work on her people skills” but that the board would support her.

“Unless you guys can show me some malfeasance, criminal, we’re not going to take any action,” Ivey said.

Bruce Hanson, treasurer of the board, said he resented the criticism because he has worked hard to improve the organization. Hanson said he has attended seminars to improve his financial skills and installed financial safeguards at NPSW during his time as treasurer. Joe Bracy, a board director, said he also felt he was working in the best interests of the town.

“Is it the board that’s wrong, or is it the one person that’s wrong?” asked Bracy. “Common sense would say that if someone is attacking everyone, there’s something wrong with that one person.”

Bracy and Jamison later became involved in a heated discussion after Bracy said Jamison called Cedroni “unqualified” for a manager position created under a new interlocal agreement at the Aug. 10 selectmen’s meeting. Jamison denied the accusation.

“I can’t defend myself here!” shouted Jamison. “You make all these innuendos and everything else, and I can’t defend myself.”

“Need I say more?” asked Bracy. “I mean, that just shows what all of us are going through.”

Paris Selectman Lloyd “Skip” Herrick questioned whether Jamison’s criticism of Cedroni was a defamation of character or a personal opinion. Selectman Troy Ripley said he believed the disagreements stemmed from disparities between the board’s bylaws and the interlocal agreement, which was approved at the two communities’ annual town meetings in June. He suggested that the board leaders and town managers meet to resolve the issue.

Jamison also accused some of the board members of refusing to follow the bylaws. She said Eric Grondahl, a Norway appointee and vice president of the board, used inappropriate language and said he would not advance to the presidency per the bylaws.

Bruce Cook, a Norway director and the only person other than Jamison to vote against the removal resolution, urged the board to put the issue in the past.

“We’ve heard about respect and treating each other with dignity, and some of us are acting like a bunch of clowns,” Cook said. “It hasn’t been put to rest, and my point is: Bury it, once and for all, or resign.”

[email protected]