Politics & Government

Longest Member of Town and Country Police Commission Removed

Town and Country resident Dorothy Rogers will no longer serve as on the city's police commission after a comment at last week's meeting.

Town and Country resident Dorothy Rogers served on the city's police commission for 13 years. That all changed last week when she made a comment that some considered inappropriate.

"One of the existing members made a comment that was inconsistent with the city's policy and direction," explained Alderman Nancy Avioli, chair of the Town and Country Police Commission. "I don't feel comfortable stating it."

According to Patch contributing writer John Hoffmann's recent newsletter, the comment came while the commission was discussing a move to "substitute the word 'accessible' from 'handicapped' in the (city's) Parking for Physically Disabled Ordinance." Rogers alleged comment can be read here on page 5 of Hoffmann's newsletter.

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Those who attended the meeting confirm the comment was made, but Rogers tells Town and Country - Manchester Patch that her comment was taken out of context.

"All I can tell you is what I said was twisted," Rogers said. 

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Avioli tells Town and Country - Manchester Patch Rogers made the comment at the March 20 police commissioner meeting and by Thursday March 22 Mayor Jon Dalton appointed Ward 1 at-large member Jeff Klieve as interim commissioner pending his approval to that position by the board of aldermen.

"I think the mayor acted in the best interest of the city," Avioli said.

I was absolutely shocked that after 13 years what I said was twisted and I found out that I was being replaced," Rogers tells Patch. "They took me off the commission. I don't want to go into anything else. What was done really hurt me. All I can tell you is that what I said was twisted on someone's blog and the mayor felt he should remove me."

"Mrs. Rogers term expired on 5-31-2011. She had not applied for re-appointment. I appointed Mr. Klieve to serve as a regular member of the Commission from Ward 1 on an interim basis pending Board of Aldermen approval. Mr. Klieve was previously an at-large member of the Commission," Dalton stated in an email response to Patch about the incident.

However, Rogers said she was asked to resign after making the comment.

"Someone blogged and I was asked to resign over what he wrote. I stood my ground. I did not resign. I told the mayor he had to take me off," Rogers said. "I've been there 13 years and honest to God I've only missed a handful of meetings. I've been here (Town and Country) 22 years."

Rogers was also given a letter of appreciation at that March 20 police commission meeing, which she said upsets her even more.

"Two days later I'm off the commission," she explained.

The city's police commission has eight seats and is made up of residents from each of the city's four wards.


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