SWAMPSCOTT — There were no motions made, and neither board took any votes, but for almost 45 minutes, both the Select Board and Board of Health decried the idea of racist comments from elected officials in town.
Wednesday’s joint meeting between the Select Board and Board of Health was brief, with one of the only items on the agenda a discussion on civil discourse. Members of both boards said there should be “no tolerance” for racially charged comments from elected officials in town, especially during the current climate in the U.S. with protests against racial violence and police brutality.
Board of Health Chairwoman Marianne Hartmann was one of those present who said a prominent topic during conversations with residents has been alleged racially insensitive comments made by elected officials in town.
“We should have zero tolerance for any racially motivated comments,” she said.
Stephanie Goodman, a member of the Board of Health, said she has heard from residents who have been frustrated hearing COVID-19 called “poo-flu,” “Kung-Fu flu,” or “Chinese coronavirus” by town officials, although she did not name any names or specifically accuse any town officials of using such terms.
“I want to reiterate the Board of Health’s position, that racism is a public health crisis,” Goodman said. “We see it in our town, and in our little community here.”
Goodman said she recently learned of an instance in which a resident was going for a walk with her ethnically Hawaiian husband, who had racial slurs called out to him. Goodman also said people are going to “make mistakes” when talking about serious subjects such as racism, but that blatantly racist language is “unacceptable.”
Hartmann said racial comments are “coming from the top down,” mentioning President Donald Trump when speaking about the subject, and said she has read articles about the prevalence of racist terms for COVID-19, such as “Chinese virus” and “Kung-Flu.”
Emily Cilley, another member of the Board of Health, said a member of the town’s Planning Board has used racist comments, although she did not name who.
“I get frustrated with this individual every meeting we have with the stuff that comes out of his mouth,” she said.
Peter Spellios, the chairman of the Select Board, said elected officials should be held to a standard of “appropriateness” when making comments.
“To those who are saying this is about political correctness or stifling free speech, I ask them to listen to this again and understand what the message is. It is not about political correctness, it is about appropriateness, especially from the leaders in this town,” Spellios said.
Select Board member Naomi Dreeben said racial comments from town officials are inherently wrong because they deny residents of the goals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” ingrained in the U.S. constitution.
“We don’t need to all agree, but we have to respect each other,” Dreeben said.
Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald said there is a “serious divide between black and brown Americans and white Americans, who have such an advantage,” and also condemned racially charged comments.
No town officials were mentioned by name during the discussion. However, the discussion came in the wake of allegations of racially insensitive comments by Select Board member Don Hause, who has adamantly denied making any such comments.
