Youth center becomes hub of increasing controversy
Staff writer
Tension between Peabody’s youth center, a police officer on personal leave, and city officials elicited a lengthy discussion at a council meeting Monday.
The latest conflict between the city and the Hub youth center arose Feb. 8, when officer Eric Watts radioed for backup after adolescents outside the building allegedly approached and threatened him.
According to Hub board president Joe Hutchison, the city greatly exaggerated the number of kids.
Hutchison was told “20 to 30” kids were present, but he contends there were about five.
“We’ve got video of the whole incident,” he said. “That absolutely did not happen. The second thing is, I talked to Officer Watts, and he told me that he did not put that in his report. So we’ve got a situation where either the mayor’s lying or the cops are lying about what happened.”
The Record has not yet seen the Hub’s footage. Attempts to view it are continuing.
“I don’t care if it’s four or 24,” Mayor Catherine Weems said after the meeting. “If they’re hollering or if they’re interfering in the police investigation and what they’re doing, that is a potential threat. You also had other things going on, parents coming down.”
Watts has been placed on unexplained personal leave, where he has remained for more than 10 days.
Weems declined to comment on his leave, citing HIPAA, but said he would return as an officer.
During his absence, sheriff’s deputies and Marion police have handled some calls in Peabody.
Weems said that an effort was made to discuss concerns with the Hub after the incident, but that a meeting request was rejected by Hutchison.
Hutchison denied rejecting such a request.
Weems said such a meeting would have been open to the public, though not part of a city council meeting.
She denied a request by Hub board member Beth Peter to make the Hub an agenda item for Monday’s council meeting.
“We can have a public meeting,” Weems said. “I’ve offered that. Like a community meeting. They’ve told me no. I’m still offering it.”
“I told her I didn’t know how beneficial a meeting would be,” Hutchison said. “But I did tell her that if she wants to call a meeting, we would be there.”
Hub board member Carolyn Gard asked the council Monday to consider what might happen if the Hub was shut down.
“Back when I was in high school, many, many years ago, there were unacceptable and even illegal things that were going on,” Gard said. “If we were to close the Hub, like some are trying to get done, things are still going to be going on in town. Who will we blame then?”
Weems said the council had never said they wanted to shut down the Hub.
“I’m not going to sit here and tell you that people haven’t been frustrated, but the council has never suggested closing the Hub,” she said.
Hub board member Peter requested that the Hub be added to the March 31 council agenda.
There was no indication whether or not the request would be granted.
Meanwhile, Peabody continues to search for a city administrator and a city clerk.
While it had been hoped one person might be able to fill both roles, Weems asked for and received council approval Monday to post the clerk position separately.
Weems, who has a background in government finance, has served as mayor and interim city clerk since Rayna Crawford resigned Jan. 27.
Asked whether she had experienced any conflicts of interest while serving both positions, she said she had not.
“I stay out of anything I believe is remotely controversial,” she said.