LYNNFIELD — As the Lynnfield Center Water District faces a crisis of confidence, its chairwoman has resigned.
Constance Leccese, whose term does not end until 2021, submitted her resignation on Friday, effective at the end of March.
“As you know, the demands placed on the commission has escalated dramatically over the past year,” she wrote in a letter to Commissioner Richard Lamusta. “This is a complex organization … I feel the district would be better served by a commissioner with more time to devote to the organization’s mission.”
With former Commissioner Kenneth Burnham’s retirement this month, there will soon be at least two new members on the three-person panel and a new superintendent. Burnham also served as water superintendent.
Lamusta’s term ends in March and it’s unclear whether he will seek reelection. He could not be reached for comment. Commissioners are elected by ratepayers.
In an interview with Lynnfield Weekly News, Leccese said the decision to resign was very difficult.
“This is an organization in transition, and they need a new board and a new superintendent,” she said. ”My decision to resign was in the best interest of the district and I hope this will move things forward.”
Leccesse’s resignation comes as ratepayers and the Board of Selectmen are at odds. Selectmen are seeking changes in the panel’s governance.
Last summer, the LCWD faced criticism from dozens of residents who attended a public hearing to complain about brown water. In December, the panel was denounced by ratepayers over a controversial retroactive water rate increase that took its 2,600 users by surprise.
Earlier this month, the Board of Selectmen filed a public records request seeking documents from the water commission about the rate hike.
Town Administrator Robert Dolan said Selectmen were concerned about whether the commissioners made formal votes to implement the new policies from the rate increase, charging for water by use, and retroactive billing.
The selectmen submitted legislation to state Rep. Bradley Jones Jr. (R-North Reading) on Beacon Hill that would amend governance of the LCWD.
At the time, Leccese said while the selectmen were welcome to any public documents, she saw a darker side to the board’s action.
“It’s a not-so-veiled attempt to take over the water district,” she said.
Leccese said the commission’s attorney has reviewed the minutes of previous meetings and determined the higher rate, its retroactive increase, and the tiered system, were legal.
“The opinion is what we did was perfectly, perfectly legal and legitimate,” Leccese said.
