SWAMPSCOTT — Residents, members of the Select Board, and members of the Board of Health have now spoken out about alleged comments made by Select Board member Don Hause.
During the public comment section of the virtual joint meeting between the Swampscott Select Board and Board of Health Wednesday night, they voiced their opinions about the alleged insensitive comments, although Hause had to leave the meeting shortly before the public comments section began.
“I’ve got to be honest, I came in here pretty angry this evening,” said Select Board member Laura Spathanas.
The discussion centered on alleged comments made by Hause while he was at dinner at Mission on the Bay last Thursday. Erik Heilman, who served Hause as a bartender that evening, alleged on the Facebook group page Swampscott 01907 over the weekend that Hause called the Black Lives Matter movement “liberal bull****” and said that white privilege does not exist.
Heilman said in the post he was “distraught” after hearing the elected official’s alleged comments, and he was later fired for breaking Mission on the Bay’s protocol on guest confidentiality. Mission on the Bay has offered Heilman his job back, but, according to co-owner Marty Bloom, Heilman said he has found other work. Hause has called Heilman’s comments inaccurate and defamatory in his own Facebook post prior to Wednesday’s meeting.
Hause attended almost the first two hours of the Select Board meeting, which began at 6 p.m., and said he had the intention of participating in discussing the “important” topics to be raised during public comment. However, he said he had to leave the virtual meeting at 7:46 p.m. to catch a plane, and did not participate in the public comments section, which began at 7:49 p.m.
Resident Jessica Sapp said, as the wife of an African American and mother of two biracial sons, she wants to know what Hause really believes.
“In Swampscott, we live in a community that is 95 percent white and 0.9 percent black,” she said. “What does it mean for (black people) when public officials deny the struggles they have had and are having in our country?”
Nicolas Scibelli, who said he is leading an effort to have Hause recalled if he does not resign voluntarily, said it was “unfortunate” Hause had to leave the meeting, and he’d like to ask him “point blank” if he supports the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I agree with you. It’s unfortunate he’s not here right now, but I want you to know that was inadvertent and perhaps we can find a place, a productive place, perhaps outside of Facebook, that we can talk about this,” said Select Board Chairman Peter Spellios.
George Potts said he would like to see “better discourse” and hear what people actually say, rather than just read what others claim they said on social media.
Ryan Millet suggested that the Select Board hold a separate “Q-an-A” Zoom meeting to address the allegations against Hause.
“I think it would be cathartic for the entire town,” Millet said.
Scibelli participated a second time during the public comments section and said he knows people who have reached out to Hause and gotten no response, and he supports the idea of a forum dedicated specifically to the controversy.
“Everyone I’ve talked to said he hasn’t gotten back to them,” Scibelli said. “So he’s claimed he is available, but the results have shown otherwise.”
Spellios allowed Select Board members to respond to public comments, which he said is not typically allowed during Select Board meetings.
Board of Health member Stephanie Goodman said it “seems” like someone “more suitable” should be found for the Select Board other than Hause, and someone “who doesn’t think Black Lives Matter is liberal B.S.”
“Racism is a public health crisis,” Goodman said.
Board of Health Chairwoman Marianne Hartmann said she would have asked Hause what he believes about Black Lives Matter and white privilege if he stayed at the meeting.
“If he did say those things, we have a real problem with him being on the Select Board,” Hartmann said.
“I do find it frustrating as all get-out that Don is not here,” said Board of Health member Emily Cilley.
Spellios and Select Board member Polly Titcomb said the alleged comments do not reflect the Select Board’s views, adding the Select Board unanimously passed a resolution condemning racial violence two weeks ago.
