- Elodie Reed, St. Albans Messenger
- Former Alburgh Selectboard member Bernard Savage.
Alburgh Selectboard member Bernard Savage,
who initially refused to step down after he was indicted on federal drug charges, recently resigned from the board.
Savage announced his resignation at the selectboard meeting on October 13, according to meeting minutes. Savage also resigned his position on the town planning commission and his appointment as town health officer, according to the minutes.
Savage pleaded not guilty in September to federal drug charges, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and oxycodone.
On July 1, federal agents raided Savage's home and attached auto garage on Route 2 south of town and confiscated 103 firearms, $25,000 in cash, 3.9 grams of cocaine, 60 prescription opiate pills, 67 grams of marijuana and equipment for a meth lab, according to court documents.
Federal prosecutors say that Savage, whose nickname is "Joker," is head of a local motorcycle club called the Devils Jesters, which is allegedly involved in drug dealing.
Fellow selectboard members asked Savage to resign after his arrest, but he refused. In a recent interview with
Seven Days, Savage said he took pride in representing the town where he has lived for decades.
"Everybody clapped when I didn't resign," Savage told
Seven Days. "I had so many people ask me not to do it. There's a lot of people behind me. I do a good job. I try to help a lot of people. I care for the town. I try to do the best I can. We have a good town here. It's a pleasure. People here know who I really am."
Savage, who had two years left in his three-year term on the selectboard, could not immediately be reached for comment. The
Burlington Free Press first reported Savage's resignation.