WILLIAMSTOWN â The selection of Lt. Michael Ziemba as interim police chief, while unanimously supported by the town s search committee, caused a procedural rift in the group at the end of the process. That rift was reported to the Select Board on Monday night.
According to members of the committee, some felt that their first choice for interim chief should be the final choice, and pointed to communications they received from former Town Manager Jason Hoch.
By the time the committee made its final decision, Hoch no longer was at the helm. So, committee members did what they were instructed: They offered a first choice and a second choice, which they provided if the first choice didnât work out.
May 19, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, May 13, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) participated as a keynote speaker for the Andrus Center for Public Policy’s 2021 Environmental Conference at Boise State University. Titled “Energy, Salmon, Agriculture and Community: REVISITED,” the conference reprised the Andrus Center’s 2019 conference focusing on the diverse and interconnected factors related to salmon survival, energy production, and economic development throughout the Pacific Northwest.
River stakeholders and partners have since been applauding Rep. Newhouse’s remarks and his commitment to ensuring all voices are heard on this important issue:
“In every public debate, a moment occurs that shifts the tide. Rep. Newhouse’s comments at the Andrus Center conference created that moment for supporters of a clean, equitable energy future for the Pacific Northwest.”
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Jeffrey Johnson and Wade Hasty will take seats on the Williamstown, Massachusetts select board after Tuesday’s high turnout municipal election.
According to official numbers released Wednesday, 1,823 voters representing a 38% turnout went to the polls in the community of around 7,500. Amid a series of scandals regarding police misconduct and larger conversations about systemic racism in Williamstown, some townspeople – including candidate Albert Cummings – felt threatened by the discourse.
“I m worried about the town, said Cummings. I ve never seen the town- In my whole life. I ve never seen this much tension, I guess you d call it. I mean, I think it could even go into turmoil. I mean, the town is, is a mess right now. And there s people that are just trying to find everything bad there is about Williamstown, and I m not going stand for it.”
Ziemba, who has been serving as acting chief since the departure of Kyle Johnson in December, was vetted by a committee of concerned citizens created by the Select Board to advise the town manager, who has hiring authority under the town s charter. That committee s role was called into question on Monday when one of the residents appointed to serve announced on Facebook that she was resigning over concerns with the process that led to Ziemba s appointment. While making it clear that she had no objection to Ziemba s elevation to the position, Aruna D Souza charged that Blanchard overruled the advisory committee by not appointing its preferred candidate.