MANCHESTER, N.H. – [Story updated Sept. 17, 11:29 p.m.] Alderman At-Large Joseph Levasseur has announced that he is resigning as chair of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) and has apologized to Manchester Health Department Director Anna Thomas.
A special meeting of the BMA had been scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 17 following a cancellation of another special meeting of the BMA one week earlier. The earlier meeting had intended to examine comments made by Levasseur against Thomas about the city’s health safety ordinance. However, the Sept. 17 meeting was also cancelled shortly before it was expected to begin.
In a press release Levasseur announced that his resignation as chair came after no registered Republicans advanced in Tuesday’s primaries in Ward 1 and Ward 3, both of which were open seats, saying also that his dispute with Thomas and his continued presence as chair would be a distraction during the general election and harm Republicans at the polls.
“My passion for the little guy sometimes turns to frustration with what appears to me to be government overreach,” said Levasseur in a prepared statement. “I believe that Anna Thomas has the best interests of the city at heart and in the end tries to do what’s best for it. If she is taking offense for some of my posts, I apologize for hurting her feelings and will be more mindful in the future from doing so.”
Levasseur will remain as one of Manchester’s two at-large Aldermen and advanced past Tuesday’s primary in a bid for another term in that role. June Trisciani, Dan O’Neil and Will Infantine also advanced to the general election.
Ward 1 Alderman Chris Morgan, who did not advance past the primary in his campaign to take an at-large Aldermanic seat, disagreed with Levasseur’s assessment of the situation, saying he believes that Levasseur resigned to avoid a bi-partisan vote forcing him to resign his chairmanship.
“Joe Kelly Levasseur has a problem with the truth. Not one part of his statement is accurate,” wrote Morgan, responding to Levasseur’s resignation press release [see below.]
“It is crucial for the citizens of Manchester to understand that in my view, (Levasseur) is a deceiver and a manipulator – not ‘for the people’ as he claims, but out for himself,” said Morgan. “Manchester deserves better.”
Outside of City Hall, supporters of Levasseur, including former school board member Ken Tassey, gathered. Tassey felt that Alderman At-Large Dan O’Neil’s statement that the cancellation of the special meeting last week for the death of Charlie Kirk while the death of Manchester Police Department Officer Michael Briggs [on Oct. 17, 2006] did not result in an Aldermanic meeting cancellation was inappropriate and politically charged. Tassey requested that O’Neil be censured for that comment.
However, Tassey said he was glad that the Sept. 17 meeting was cancelled and hopes that the city can just move on.
“In all, more will win than lose by the cancellation of the meeting tonight, especially the people of Manchester who expect their elected officials to use our resources to do the peoples’ business instead of wasting it to smear their political opponents for exercising free speech days before election,” said Tassey.
Supporters of city employees that have been attacked by Levasseur were also outside City Hall to show their support, including several Aldermen. One was Ward 4 Alderwoman Christine Fajardo.
“The longer we keep on putting this meeting off, the more opportunity Alderman Levasseur has to continue to make the discussion on his own terms and make it about things he cares about,” said Fajardo. “The conversation needs to stay on the city’s employees. They need to know that many of us on the board have their back.”
Late Wednesday Fajardo issued an email request to City Clerk Matt Normand for “proper notification” of Levasseur’s resignation as board chair, which was forwarded to board members at 6:16 p.m. on Wednesday.
Fajardo requested a formal letter for review before the board accepts the resignation, something she would like to have prior to voting whether to hold a special meeting before the next scheduled aldermanic meeting.
“The phone poll conducted earlier this evening was rushed and incomplete, at best. The hasty arrangement has created more questions and confusion regarding the specifics of what was ‘included’ as part of our vote to postpone tonight’s meeting. As far as I am concerned, I have not received any formal resignation, and the votes cast in the phone poll were only to postpone a meeting—not to accept a press release in place of his resignation,” Fajardo wrote.
She requested that a formal letter of resignation – rather than a press release – be received by 10 a.m. on Sept. 18, “along with a properly documented roll call on the decision of whether or not to hold a special meeting between now and October 7th.”
Ward 5 Alderman Anthony Sapienza and Ward 10 Alderman Bill Barry also wanted to show their support.
“As much as this has been about the last few months, this is about the last 20 years. This Alderman has made a career out of disrespecting our employees. He has gone from one department head to another, to meter maids to every employee on the street,” said Sapienza. “It’s been happening for years and years and years and it’s about time he was called out.”
“As an elected official, I think it’s important to support all of our public employees and I think it’s inappropriate to attack any city employees,” said Barry.
Below: A copy of the press release issued by Levasseur.
Carol Robidoux contributed to this report.