SAUGUS — Al DiNardo wants to know how to get his reputation back.
DiNardo said he has been the subject of heavy criticism from Board of Selectmen Chairman Anthony Cogliano for allegedly attacking Cogliano on Facebook using a pseudonym. But, DiNardo insists he was not doing so and believes Cogliano has a “personal vendetta” against him.
The spat began when messages Cogliano sent to Eliot Evan Smith, of Lynn, were made public in an email to members of the media and the Board of Selectmen. Smith has criticized Cogliano for his stance regarding WIN Waste Innovations’ proposed expansion of its ash monofill. In the messages, Cogliano made what Smith considers threats to his family — saying “I was planning on stopping by your house later” and “keep looking out the door” — and sent personal insults like “I’d say [expletive] me but I know that’s your thing so I’ll pass.”
Cogliano has said he did so because he believed Smith was actually a former town official using a fraudulent Facebook account, and because Smith’s comments started involving his family. In an email, Smith categorically denied doing so and said Cogliano made homophobic remarks about DiNardo, who is gay.
“In the Facebook threads, I criticized Cogliano for allegedly falsified declarations in a lawsuit and seemingly lying under oath about his time in law school,” Smith said. “He then responded by claiming I was Al DiNardo and making homophobic comments about him. He also threatened to come to my house, which is a real attack on my family.”
DiNardo, a lifelong resident who moved to Plymouth nearly three years ago, said fellow residents know he “doesn’t do the stuff the chairman is accusing me of.”
“I hope this all goes away,” he said, adding that he is prepared to take legal action. “Today it’s me, tomorrow it’s you.”
Cogliano has repeatedly and defiantly refused to apologize to DiNardo or Smith, who he continues to claim are the same person despite evidence pointing to the contrary (including an Item reporter having separate phone conversations with each man). He told The Item, “To me, it’s a fake account.”
At a Board of Selectmen meeting Tuesday night, dozens of residents turned out to show their support for Cogliano — with the chairman receiving a loud cheer as he said he would not “take one thing back.”
“There’s a line, and you’re not going to cross it with me,” he said.
But, DiNardo said he told Cogliano in a phone conversation that he can report fake accounts to Facebook and that the company would likely try to take them down.
DiNardo said Cogliano retaining the support of fellow board members — who shot down the idea of even considering a vote to remove him as chairman — didn’t matter. He said this November’s election could serve as a tipping point in town, with all five selectmen up for reelection. Cogliano secured his chairmanship after earning the most votes in the previous two town elections.
“The voters of the town are very smart and educated and they can see the truth,” he said. “They can see what’s going on.”
In 2015, DiNardo was one of the leading organizers behind a recall effort that saw town voters remove four sitting selectmen who had fired Town Manager Scott Crabtree. DiNardo said the previous board promised the manager post to Cogliano, who has since harbored resentment for the way the recall unfolded.
The public spat that has unfolded this week is about “politics and power,” according to DiNardo.
“I’m not attacking anybody because Mr. Smith is real,” he said. “[Cogliano] is accusing me of doing things I didn’t do … it’s smear tactics.”
