Former Templeton health board member barred from town buildings after using anti-gay slur at selectmen’s meeting

Former Templeton health board member barred from town buildings after using anti-gay slur at selectmen’s meeting
By George Barnes TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
george.barnes@telegram.com


TEMPLETON — Former Board of Health member Randy Lawrence has been barred from town buildings following an outburst at a selectmen's meeting Monday night at which he also yelled an anti-gay slur at the chairman of the board.

Selectmen Kenneth Robinson, at whom the slur was directed, is gay and married. He said he was unhappy with the slur but very concerned about the safety of board members and members of the public at the meeting due to the contentious nature of the discussion with Mr. Lawrence.

Police issued a no trespass order against Mr. Lawrence on Wednesday, prohibiting him from visiting town buildings and schools, especially Town Hall and Narragansett Regional High School where a town meeting is planned for next week. The order was issued by police at the request of the Board of Selectman out of concern for the threatening nature of the outburst by Mr. Lawrence.

Police Chief Michael Bennett said the order was issued for a year, but selectmen indicated they wished it to be for 90 days. He said at the end of 90 days, selectmen can request the order be removed.


Mr. Robinson said Mr. Lawrence attended a meeting held to discuss budget issues with several boards and department heads. He said he wanted to talk about two of his properties being included in a tax title sale. The sale, to be held Wednesday, is of properties where back taxes are owed. The successful bidder or bidders would purchase the right to collect the back taxes.

Mr. Lawrence told selectmen he was looking to talk with them about developing a payment plan for back taxes he owes. He owes a total of $49,653.44. Mr. Lawrence was one of about five dozen taxpayers advertised in a local newspaper as delinquent on their taxes. The advertisement was to announce that the upcoming auction for the right to collect the taxes.

Mr. Robinson said Mr. Lawrence waited through nearly four hours of the meeting before addressing the board, but was not on the agenda and was told he had to be on the agenda. The selectman said that although he was not on the agenda, he was recognized and allowed to speak.

"He then came right up to the table and he held up a letter (he received from the town treasurer) and launched into a tirade," he said.

The confrontation grew more heated, to the point where Mr. Robinson said he became concerned it could become physical. There had been police presence at the meeting but the officers had left before Mr. Lawrence began to speak. Mr. Robinson, the board chairman, said Fire Chief Raymond LaPorte became so concerned about the increasing anger he began used his phone to video what was happening. The video shows Mr. Lawrence angrily speaking to Mr. Robinson and finally leaving, swearing at the selectman as he left and yelling an anti-gay slur off camera.

During the discussion, Mr. Lawrence made reference to Mr. Robinson's husband and the hair dressing salon he owns and to the state Department of Revenue. He was asked repeatedly to leave.

The order would prohibit Mr. Lawrence from attending a town meeting scheduled for Wednesday at Narragansett Middle School auditorium.

Mr. Lawrence served for several years on the Board of Health before being removed in 2004 through a recall election. He has been unsuccessful since in several attempts to get elected to the board.

Contact George Barnes at george.barnes@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgebarnesTG