'Something went on.' Wellfleet ousted its Select Board chair amid public infighting. Why?

Editor's note: This story was updated on July 26, 2023, to correct the length of service of a Select Board chair.

WELLFLEET — Following a number of contentious meetings and growing acrimony, Ryan Curley has been ousted as chairman of the Select Board.

Member Barbara Carboni has stepped into the role. Members Michael DeVasto and Kathleen Bacon had been pushing for the new leadership during meetings earlier this month.

The specifics of the sudden change are unclear, but what is clear is that tempers have been simmering since the Select Board held a closed-door executive session on June 27 to “hear complaints against a public official or employee.” That executive session agenda also included a discussion about staffing and communication.

Curley was in his third year as chairman of the Select Board. Members elected him to the post most recently in May.

During the public comment portion of the July 11 meeting, Bacon said Curley ignored and dismissed the requests to reorganize the board. She said an “expeditious” reorganization would be in the best interests of the town.

Thirty minutes later DeVasto tried to introduce a motion to vote on a new chairperson. It set off a 10-minute row between him and Curley about the legality of the move, whether it violated the state’s code of ethics, whether it was allowed by Town Charter, and whether it violated Curley’s rights.

Curley said town counsel needed to weigh in and DeVasto countered that he had already checked with town counsel, KP Law LLC, which specializes in municipal legal work. When Curley said the motion was illegal, DeVasto said, “That is bull----.”

Town Administrator Richard Waldo suggested the item be included under topics for future discussion.

After Curley denied DeVasto’s motion, a roll call vote was taken to put the item on the next board meeting agenda. That motion passed with Curley the single "no" vote. Curley said the agenda item might not make the July 13 meeting because he wanted to check with town counsel. Agenda items need to be posted 48 hours before a public meeting.

When Waldo told Curley several minutes after the discussion ended that he had town counsel on the line, Curley said he preferred to follow up with them at a later time.

Several residents spoke during the public comment portions of both the July 11 and 13 meetings saying they were concerned about what one man called “this drama going on.”

At the July 13 meeting, Curt Felix, a member of the Dredging Task Force and Board of Water Commissioners, spoke up in support of Waldo, saying he believes there had been a crisis in leadership, and overreach by Curley. Fire Chief Richard Pauley said Waldo has the support of senior staff members in town and criticized the behavior of Curley and DeVasto at the July 11 meeting, saying he had never seen anything like it.

From the archive: Civil discourse at heart of Wellfleet Select Board agenda regarding another board member

But DeVasto and Curley clashed again on July 13. DeVasto claimed Curley removed an item from the agenda; Curley denied it.

The board elected Carboni as chair on July 18. Before the vote, Curley called it an honor to serve the town, saying the board had addressed several issues during a long period of turmoil. He said the workload had been immense, and said the administration "must do a better job of supporting the chair."

Carboni thanked Curley for his leadership, and suggested the board have a policy of rotating officer positions annually.

Resident Roland Blair called for an explanation behind the calls for reorganization and the veil of secrecy surrounding it.

"Something went on," said Blair. "This is my town."

Minutes from the June 27 executive session have not been released and may not be released until August. The Select Board is scheduled to hold another closed session on July 25, but will not go back into a public meeting after it ends.

Bacon said board members could not comment further until those minutes are released.

Denise Coffey writes about business and tourism. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @DeniseCoffeyCCT.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Wellfleet Select Board reorganizes: Curley is out, Carboni is in