Thursday, January 13, 2000 Older Editions

Assault alleged at meeting

By Rebecca Lipchitz

A few Ballardvale residents can expect a reprimand from Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski in a special meeting later this month.

After Perry Raffi, a member of the Ballardvale Historic District Commission, was accused of threatening neighbors, Stapczynski says he plans to address the group.

"As public officials, and in this case, special municipal employees, we must put our petty issues aside and put on the cloak of public office. If people can't do that, perhaps they ought not to participate in the arena of public officials," Stapczynski says.

According to Andover police, Ballardvale residents Madeline and Bob Partridge filed a complaint that Raffi threatened them at the commission's Jan. 5 meeting.

Both Raffi and Madeline Partridge, reached at home Tuesday by phone, declined to comment.

Tensions over a long-standing dispute between Raffi and neighbors led to the argument at last week's meeting.

According to Police Lt. James Hashem, Madeline Partridge said Raffi assaulted her at the meeting by pushing her.

Andover police have applied for a summons, Hashem says, meaning a hearing will be held before a clerk magistrate to determine whether or not Raffi would be charged with assault and battery.

Police, who listened to a tape of the meeting, say it includes sounds of a ruckus and people yelling, but no discernible verbal threats by Raffi against the Partridges.

While board members reported to police that they heard Raffi make threats, no witnesses say they saw any physical contact between Raffi and Bob Partridge, according to police.

Historic District Commission board member Ron Kravette, Raffi's next-door neighbor who has been at odds with Raffi over a fence Raffi erected, says Madeline Partridge was injured when she tried to restrain Raffi as he yelled at and threatened her husband.

"It was absolutely terrifying," Kravette said.

Stapczynski says he plans to call a special meeting to address the board and neighbors about the incident.

"This is the kind of lecture I give my 9- and 11-year-old when they fight," Stapczynski says.

He plans to address the board and members of the public about conduct at a public meeting.

"Enough is enough. They are an embarrassment to my administration, to the town, to the bylaw we fought for at the Town Meeting, and to the credibility of Andover's system of government," Stapczynski says.

He expects members of the public in dealing with town boards to take their grievances through the proper channels, he says.

"The public has to be reminded that if there is disagreement with the board, there is recourse, often not back to the board. To bring it up at a commission meeting when they have taken action and an appeal has been heard, that's inappropriate," he says.

He also said he plans to address board members, but the message is "aimed at two" of them.

"If I don't see an improvement in behavior, we'll have a time out. That means I'll be asking for resignations and the last step would be to relieve people of the awesome responsibility of being a public servant, and I don't do that lightly," Stapczynski says.