Plassmann announced last Friday that she was stepping down from the council immediately because of what she called “politically motivated” harassment by an unidentified department head.
Angela D. PlassmannNORTHAMPTON – Even as the city schedules a special election to fill the seat vacated by Ward 3 City Councilor Angela D. Plassmann, Plassmann’s lawyer is searching for answers about the complaints that led to her resignation.
Plassmann announced last Friday that she was stepping down from the council immediately because of what she called “politically motivated” harassment by an unidentified department head. On her website, Plassmann also said she might seek a criminal complaint or file a civil suit concerning the matter. She has since declined to return telephone calls from reporters.
Although Plassmann has not given any details about the supposed harassment, her lawyer, Patrick J. Melnick, has written to Building Commissioner Louis Hasbrouck seeking information about reported complaints concerning a trailer on Plassmann’s 180 Fair Street Extension property. The city’s Planning Department has asked Hasbrouck to determine if the trailer is being used as a residence and if improvements have been made to the structure without the proper permits. The city has no record of any permits for the trailer, according to Planning Director Wayne M. Feiden. Feiden said he initiated the inquiry in response to complaints about the trailer.
Because Plassmann’s property is in a floodplain, zoning requirements are strict. In 2005, the city adopted a special plan for the low-lying Meadows that prohibits virtually all new construction there. The plan was developed by Ward 3 residents, who met over the course of a year to discuss issues affecting the Meadows.
Melnick has asked the city to identify the person or persons who complained about the trailer, state the times and dates of the observations, and cite in detail the alleged illegal activity.
“All that I have been able to determine thus far is that there is apparently some innuendo made by some anonymous informant,” Melnick wrote.
Hasbrouck said Tuesday that he does not know the names of the informants but is simply following up on the Planning Department request. Feiden said the caller or callers are anonymous, as far as he knows.
“We never received written complaints,” he said. “It could have been some person who called multiple times or different callers.”
Feiden, who did not personally field any of the calls, said the Planning Department does not require such informants to identify themselves because anonymity has encouraged people to speak up about perceived violations.
“We don’t care what the motivation is,” he said. “We care whether they’re right or not right.”
Conservation Commission chairman Kevin Lake said Tuesday that Feiden approached him about the matter several weeks ago, telling Lake it was a sensitive issue because Plassmann was a city councilor. Lake said that didn’t matter.
“You’ve got to look into it,” Lake said. “We always pursue these complaints.”
Hasbrouck said he is familiarizing himself with the zoning codes for the area and expects to have an analysis of the situation in a few days. Meanwhile, City Clerk Wendy A. Mazza has scheduled a special election for Aug. 2 to fill Plassmann’s seat. Nomination papers for the post are available in the clerk’s office starting April 13. A preliminary election would be held on June 28 if there are more than two candidates. Mazza has asked the city for $10,000 to cover potential expenses.
Ward 3 residents, who will lack a representative for the next four months, had differing reactions to Plassmann’s resignation. Gerald Budgar of the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association said he is withholding judgment until the matter plays out. In the interim, he said he has asked the two at-large councilors to field calls from Ward 3 residents.
Adam Cohen of the North Street Neighborhood Association is among those who believe Plassmann has been treated unfairly.
“She’s been singled out and held to a different standard,” he said.
Ward 6 City Councilor Eugene Tacy, who voted with Plassmann in the minority on many issues, said the other councilors failed to show Plassmann proper respect.
“I knew she was taking a lot of heat from the day she got elected,” Tacy said, “and it just never ended. She got tired of it, I guess.”