Awad, Hubley plan to fulfill duties of town posts

By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on May 23, 2008

Select Board member Anne Awad and her husband, former member Robie Hubley, have reversed course, declaring their Amherst home their primary residence, according to the couple.

In April, the couple purchased of a home at 4 Jewett Lane in South Hadley and put their North East Terrace condominium up for sale, fueling speculation Awad and Hubley would move from town.

On April 10, Hubley filed an Estate of Homestead for the South Hadley property, which allows homeowners to protect their property for up to $500,000 of the value of their primary residence. This declaration has since been removed, and they say it was made in error, the couple said.

However, a community watchdog, Larry Kelley, has posted on his blog a photograph of what appears to be a copy of Awad and Hubley's mortgage for the South Hadley property, dated April 10, stating that the mortgage is contingent upon them taking up primary residence at 4 Jewett Lane within 60 days from the start of the loan. Awad declined to comment Tuesday, saying it was a private, business matter.

The couple is defending their actions in a letter to the people of Amherst that is published on Page A4 in this week's Amherst Bulletin. The letter to the editor comes in response to what Awad and Hubley, now a Town Meeting member, describe as "negative press directed at us over the last several weeks."

In setting the record straight, they note that they remain legal residents of Amherst.

"Our decisions about moving to South Hadley will be guided by our commitment to the community of Amherst," they write. "In the meantime, we will fulfill the responsibilities of our public offices."

While some Town Meeting members have raised questions about their residency status, Town Manager Larry Shaffer said town counsel has provided advice that Awad and Hubley are entitled to maintain their seats.

And unless they are no longer registered voters in Amherst, the town clerk's office would likely not be aware if they had moved from town and were not eligible to serve.

Awad and Hubley described what they are going through as being "excoriated in the press."

"Such misleading representation, such violation of privacy, is discouraging to many who might otherwise consider running for office," they write.

Select Board Chairman Gerry Weiss said he doesn't see anything wrong in what Awad and Hubley have done. "Why would they do it in a way to hurt the town?" Weiss asked.

If Awad were to leave her post, the Select Board would likely schedule a special election to coincide with the presidential primary in September, Weiss said, so it would cost the community less than holding an election solely to replace Awad.

David Keenan, who unsuccessfully ran for Select Board this spring, notes that Awad and Hubley are public figures. "They both, unfortunately, deserve the comment that's going on in the community," Keenan said.

He said interest in the community in their status demonstrates the public's desire for leadership.