Community Corner

Sudbury Swears In New Selectmen Woodard And Simon

Board officially becomes a 5-member board.

It took more than a year to complete. It took less than a minute to make it official.

Sudbury's Board of Selectmen welcomed its two newest members during its historic July 9 meeting when Leonard Simon and Chuck Woodard were sworn in by Town Clerk Rosemary Harvell.

The swearing-in ceremony took only about 30 seconds, but its the journey that residents will always remember.

The movement began last year when a group of town employees and elected officials, including Selectman Chair Larry O'Brien, celebrated the end of Annual Town Meeting at Lavender Asian Cuisine and Bar.

Most members of the group stayed past the allowed liquor license hours, which is governed by the Selectmen. The Sudbury Police Department issued a violation to Lavender.

Residents soon flooded the summer Selectmen meetings, calling for answers about that night, which included a car crash by Community Housing Coordinator Elizabeth Rust, who admitted to having two drinks that night at the Asian restaurant.

She was cited for a third OUI, and was convicted of that charge and others last month.

O'Brien recused himself of discussion regarding Lavender on the advice of town counsel, which angered residents demanding answers. Fellow Selectmen Bob Haarde and John Drobinski disagreed on how or if discussions should proceed.

A Special Town Meeting was ultimately called for last September, where residents overwhelming voted to expand the Board by two members.

After the State Legislature intervened and decided the decision should be a ballot vote, the town again overwhelmingly voted in favor of the expansion.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by many town leaders, including Sudbury Fire Chief Bill Miles, acting Police Chief Scott Nix, DPW Director Bill Place, and Sudbury Public Schools Committee member Scott Nassa, among others.  


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