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Letters to the Editor: Village Dealings & the Upcoming Elections
January 22, 2011
To the Editor:
I would like to pose a few questions to the village board as a whole. The current issues concerning disagreements within our village government, and the state of our financial budget seem to be “caused” by the group as a whole. I do not throw accusations at any individual, but I ask that each member of the board take responsibility for their own actions.
I know that if I had to watch my own actions on You Tube I would find it a very hard pill to swallow. I do not down play what it is like for any individual to have to take a step outside and look in on their own actions. But the video footage shows hostility, resentment, irrational, and irresponsible actions by each member of the board towards one another.
I ask that every one take a close look at the comments I made to the 19 January 2011 News Article regarding the “Divided Board Votes to Pay Village Attorney”. If anyone has already looked, they will see that I spent a lot of time today picking through the footage of the 18 Jan 2011 meeting. I attempted to break down the meeting into minutes, and I REALLY tried to be as accurate in my dictation from the video as I could. I do not wish to repeat myself by copying the same information from my comments here.
I feel that this website SHOULD be used as a forum for discussion about our village, and that this discussion should include members of the board and the mayor as well. While I have received some feedback to my comments stating that it would be “inappropriate” for the trustees or mayor to post answers on the news forum, I would have to say that I disagree. If anyone takes time to watch the videos of the meetings and REALLY look at how members of the board are behaving they would see that all individuals are already acting inappropriately.
I feel it is wrong to hide behind the thought of what is and is not appropriate - I am asking the representatives in this very small town to be held accountable for their actions - at least to themselves. This is not a minor issue , this isn’t even an individual issue, it is a set of issues.
Issue #1 – Was the past law firm legally fired and the new law firm legally hired?
Issue #2 – The astronomical cost of the legal fees and the irresponsibility of the individuals who hired the firm to properly negotiate the cost until after the firm had started working.
Issue #3 – The fate of the police force, and the full time officers – If so much money is being transferred to cover $90k in legal fees, why can we not pay two men so that they can keep their jobs?, and
Issue #4 – The general disrespect, bickering, and irresponsible actions by all of the members.
I ask that our representatives take the time to answer my questions. I also ask that the people of the village take the time to read what I wrote – I welcome feed back, as well as counter points. I just want to see that my neighbors are actually thinking about what their elected officials are doing. This is not a county, state or national issue. This is an issue of the village. The current members, as well as those individuals running for election, are part of this community. If they can be our neighbors before election, and outside office, why can they not give us respect as neighbors while holding office? Did the collective voice in the room December 2010 mean nothing to the board, and if it did, will they answer me on this forum.
I am not accusing anyone, or demanding that a set list of questions be answered. I am asking that each member of the board, and each member of this community give thought to what I wrote - especially the numbers. I would like to hear peoples thoughts on the matter, not demand that people be put on the spot to answer the questions I posed individually. This is a community, and right before this election I call on the representatives to represent, not just attempt to gain and usurp each others power.
When the computer store in the town was found to be running its business unethically everyone piled in to comment and discuss that. I am asking you to uphold your elected officials to the same level off accountability that you at least hold the man you ask to fix your laptop.
Thank you.
Melissa Vellone
Cornwall-on-Hudson
Comments:
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Just for the record, Melissa, during my two years as Village Trustee I did periodically comment in this forum to provide clarification (where I could), but mostly to give the general public a sense of where I stood on the issues being discussed. Obviously, I agree with you that, within certain boundaries, it is not only appropriate that a village official participate in the thread of discussion here, but it also creates a healthy dialogue between tax-paying residents and their elected government. If the President can go on You Tube to make his case, then I don't see the problem here.
posted by Rick Gioia on 01/29/11 at 8:53 AM
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