By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Greenfield, MA) At Wednesday’s Greenfield City Council meeting, the council voted to censure Councilor Jasper Lapienski. This came after discussion on multiple facets of the work and conduct expected of city councilors including serving on committees and subcommittees, communicating with constituents via email, and a general effort to maintain professional decorum and work together as a council for the residents of Greenfield.
Councilor Lapienski published a “My Turn” article in the Greenfield Recorder on August 11th regarding a fellow council member’s personal decision to participate in a protest. In response, Greenfield residents gathered on the Town Common Saturday morning chanting “Hey hey! Ho ho! Jasper L. has got to go!” The Greenfield Recorder has since issued a Letter from the Editor wherein Executive Editor Dan Crowley said a “My Turn submission was published…that did not meet our editorial standards for civility and fairness.”
During the public comment portion of Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Greenfield resident Jesus Leyva said that he supported Councilor Lapienski during their run for council but asked if they even wanted to be a councilor anymore; echoing Leyva’s op-ed wherein he stated “if you are uninterested in being a city councilor please step aside.” Councilor Penny Ricketts later made similar comments and asked Councilor Lapiesnski to “stay [on the council] because you want to work 100%.”
The “My Turn” article along with other words and actions by Lapienski, seemingly violate Greenfield City Council Code of Conduct which states in I.II.A. “Councilmembers must refrain from abusive conduct, personal charges, or verbal attacks upon the character or motives of other members of the City Council, boards, commissions, committees, staff, or the public.”
Vice President Dan Guin put forth a motion stating:
“Whereas the Greenfield City Council values diverse opinions but expects Council members to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with their oath of office, their obligation to work to strengthen our city, with other city councilors and officials.
1) Councilor Lapienski continues to use derogatory comments on the floor of the council and using his council title in publications, media, and other meetings representing his own opinion using the title while disrespecting and attacking other councilors and city employees. This behavior is unacceptable, and I move to censure Councilor Lapienski immediately with the expectation that this conduct will cease.”
A censure is a formal statement of disapproval that is a measure of enforcing the City Council Code of Conduct and the call to action in this case is to stop these actions by Councilor Lapienski.
The motion passed with a positive majority vote and two abstentions from Councilor Lapienski and Councilor Marianne Bullock.