Thursday evening at-large city councilor Jim Dostal tendered his resignation from the Board of Public Works and was immediately replaced by M.J. Adams, of the Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity. Councilor Dostal did not explain his sudden decision to resign. Interestingly, about a month ago Councilor Dostal voted against Councilor Narkewicz's proposal to amend section 22-1B of the city code that would have prohibited members of the council from simultaneously serving on other city agencies like the BPW among others.
Possibly related, several months ago former mayoral candidate Gene Tacy stated during a city council public comment period that he had contacted the state's ethics commission regarding Dostal's duel membership on both the council and the BPW. Dostal had been a member of the BPW for some time and is known to be a supporter of expanding the city's regional landfill. As a member of the city council he will be voting on the BPW's special permit application which will allow it to expand the landfill over the Barnes Aquifer. The application has not yet been tendered.
In confirming M.J. Adams' appointment the council waived its rules and did not refer her application to its appointments and evaluations committee for review. M.J. Adams, who was not present, is well known as, "good people" in these parts and her credentials as cited by Mayor Mary Clare Higgins seemed to more than qualify her for the post. That said, it is unclear whether the mayor performed any outreach seeking other applicants for the BPW or if anyone else had applied. It was a late file so it was not on the council's agenda and if you had blinked you would have missed the entire thing.
