Marblehead Board of Health member Tom McMahon berated Chair Helaine Hazlett at the board’s most recent meeting during a discussion about substance-abuse education.
McMahon appeared to be insulted by Hazlett’s remarks regarding his belief that he can make a difference in town when it comes to substance abuse.
“I think that’s fabulous. If you can make a difference, in this whole town, you are one person. I think that’s outstanding,” Hazlett said at the meeting Tuesday.
McMahon took offense and responded to Hazlett with profanity, which made for an uncomfortable scene among those in attendance.
“That is such bull****, the way you just said that to me,” McMahon said sternly as he turned directly toward Hazlett. “That’s bull****.”
Hazlett responded that she was “saying that with my whole heart.”
“No you’re not,” McMahon said. “That was the most bull**** response I’ve ever heard in my life. You diminish this whole thing because it’s coming out of my mouth.”
The two members have been at odds with each other since McMahon was elected in June and have had heated arguments, including one when McMahon called Hazlett out for allegedly not using Transfer Station stickers and accused her of intentionally leaving some of his items off of the board’s agenda.
The argument at Tuesday’s meeting began after McMahon asked Hazlett a series of questions about the board’s previous efforts to combat substance abuse.
“How long have you been on the board?” McMahon asked.
“I’ve lost track,” Hazlett said jokingly.
“Exactly, how long has this been an issue?” he responded.
Before she could finish her answer, McMahon followed up by asking, “How have you tackled it?”
“We’ve tackled it,” Hazlett responded
“Have you fixed it?” McMahon then asked.
“No, we did not fix it. It’s not going to be fixed,” Hazlett said.
“See, I don’t think that way at all,” McMahon responded. “I don’t think it’s not going to be fixed. I think I can make a difference.”
Afterward, three community members stepped up to share their stories of loved ones who suffer from addiction.
Since joining, McMahon has been an advocate for providing more resources to those who have been affected by substance abuse.
At Tuesday’s meeting, he suggested that the board create a task force to run public programs where community members who have struggled with or are close to people who have struggled with addiction share their stories.
Board member Joanne Miller supported the idea, but suggested that mental-health professionals be present in case there are “triggers.”
“I’m not worried about triggers, I’m aiming for triggers. Triggers are impactful. I’m not trying to sugarcoat anything,” McMahon responded. “I want them to be terrified.”
McMahon wished to take the lead on the task force, but Hazlett responded that she wanted the full board to be included.
“If it’s coming out of the auspices of the Board of Health, we need to have some kind of a plan,” Hazlett said. “If I’m going to put my stamp and my name on it, I think we all need to be in on this, not just going off on a tangent.”
Later in the meeting, Miller spoke to McMahon regarding the comments he made earlier, before she was cut off.
“Tom, you have great ideas occasionally, often, but the way you scream at people–” she said.
“The way (Hazlett) spoke to me right there was so hollow,” McMahon interrupted.
“We spent two hours last week talking about listening and active listening,” Miller continued. “I think you use language in these meetings that I’d ask you to refrain from. It is not helpful, and it hurts the work we are trying to do here. I would ask you to please make that commitment.”
“Sure, OK,” McMahon replied.
Neither Miller nor Hazlett seconded McMahon’s motion later in the meeting to hold events focusing on addiction.
