Falmouth SSA Governor Sues Selectmen to Block His Ouster

By JULIA WELLS

The standoff between Falmouth Steamship Authority governor and board
chairman Galen Robbins escalated yesterday when Mr. Robbins filed a
tough complaint in federal court against the Falmouth selectmen, who are
trying to oust him as the town's boat line governor.

Among other things, the complaint charges that the selectmen
violated Mr. Robbins's First Amendment and civil rights when they
took steps last month to remove him as boat line governor.

The complaint states in part that Falmouth selectmen, "through
the use of threats, intimidation or coercion, have interfered and are
attempting to continue to interfere with Mr. Robbins' exercise of
his rights under the Constitution."

Mr. Robbins is suing four selectmen both individually and as members
of the board, and among other things is asking for punitive damages. Not
named as a defendant in the complaint is Ahmed Mustafa, the only
selectman who supports Mr. Robbins.

Last week the selectmen set a date for a disciplinary hearing
against Mr. Robbins, and sent him a two-and-a-half-page letter detailing
charges against him. The charges center almost entirely on the fact that
Mr. Robbins failed to follow the selectmen's own goals and
policies for the boat line, especially on the subject of ferry service
out of New Bedford.

The letter also claims that Mr. Robbins allegedly made
"profanity-laced statements" following a selectmen's
meeting August 5.

The disciplinary hearing is set for

Oct. 3.

The 16-page complaint was filed in U.S. district court yesterday
afternoon by Paul Johnson, a Boston attorney who represents Mr. Robbins.
The case was assigned to the Hon. Mark L. Wolf, a U.S. district court
judge.

Mr. Robbins said yesterday that the complaint is simply an answer to
the Falmouth selectmen.

"It's really an answer to their letter of last
Friday," he said. "We all like to avoid these disputes, but
I feel this speaks to the heart of an independent Authority, and this,
unfortunately, is what it will take to preserve that. If you are
appointed to a board and you are working as hard as possible to make the
right decisions, you should be free to do so.

"Every action I have taken since I've been on the board
has been made with thought and analysis and my judgment," he
added. "Filing this action is something, again, that I think is
necessary to preserve that free thinking and the independence of the
Authority."

The court complaint filed yesterday is one more piece of fuel in a
fiery dispute that began late this summer when the Falmouth selectmen
decided to take steps to remove Mr. Robbins.

In late August, the board voted 4-1 to begin the process of ousting
the boat line governor. One selectman asked Mr. Robbins to resign, but
he refused.

Mr. Robbins was appointed in August 2001 to fill the unexpired term
of Edward DeWitt, who resigned midway through his first term. Mr.
Robbins's term runs out in December.

In the complaint, Mr. Robbins's attorney has asked the court
for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to halt
the disciplinary proceeding begun by the selectmen.

Mr. Robbins has come under some criticism recently because the
public boat line is paying for his legal defense, but he said yesterday
that the matter of his legal defense was cleared some weeks ago with
both boat line general counsel Steven Sayers and chief executive officer
Fred C. Raskin.

"As board members, we are indemnified and our legal expenses
are covered. Steve Sayers looked into this and it has all been
documented. I didn't feel comfortable proceeding without
that," Mr. Robbins said.