Chair says he will step down; public commenters accuse chair of harassment

Chair Espino told the Historic District Council at the meeting’s start that he will resign as chair effective at the end of the Aug. 15 meeting and that officers will be organized at the October meeting.

Later in public comment multiple residents accused Espino of harassing neighbors. Robert Springer identified himself as an Old Town resident and said he and his family were harassed when Espino rode by their house and shouted profanities and made inappropriate gestures about a political flag. Springer said he welcomed Espino’s decision to step down but asked the council to note the behavior and consider further steps if necessary.

Bob Sala, another Old Town resident, described a similar incident the day after a hurricane and said his wife was highly upset; he said that if Espino remains on the board he should be treated like other members who sit without a vote, so as not to create bias in deliberations. Tim Green also described witnessing upset neighbors and criticized the conduct as unacceptable.

Chair Espino did not dispute the accounts at length. At the meeting’s close he said he had been instructed about what he could say and offered no extended response beyond acknowledging the meeting’s process. The council did not take a formal disciplinary vote at the meeting; Espino’s statement concerned only the chairmanship: he will resign as chair at the meeting’s end but was not recorded as leaving the board.