Danvers Select Board Daniel Bennett Chair Lashes Out At 'Nasty, Rotten' Comments

DANVERS, MA — Daniel Bennett began his second tour as Danvers Select Board Chair in three years on Tuesday with a sharp admonishment of some residents expressing public criticism of Town Manager Steve Bartha.

Bennett was elected to succeed David Mills to guide the Board after the annual town election earlier this month. He was elected by a 3-2 vote of the Board against Maureen Bernard.

A second vote seeking unanimous consent behind Bennett was then taken with a 5-0 outcome.

"Thank you, David, for your year of service," Bennett said, "much appreciated. And thank you for the vote for making it unanimous. It's better that we support each other. Going through we will have differences of opinion, which is fine. Healthy discussion is fine. But at the end of the day, we need to remember that we represent the town of Danvers and that anything we do is for the best of the town."

He then told Board members to "buckle up your seatbelts because we're going for a ride" as he went on the offensive against some of the public shots he said he'd heard targeting Bartha and his leadership in the town.

"I feel compelled to address my fellow citizens while I have your attention," he said. "Too many times when I'm out in public I'm hearing nasty, rotten, personal comments about our town manager. It's totally, totally garbage. And those people who have made these comments should have their mouths washed out with soap.

"And the rest of you should not be so gullible. Please, my fellow Danversites, let's have more respect for our fellow citizens in town."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)