Note - This article was submitted to The Advertiser on 7/18/14.
Councilperson Mary Ann Matters surprised those
attending the 7/16/14 East Greenbush Town Board Meeting by stepping up to protest (my word, not hers) Deputy Supervisor Ed
Gilbert’s serving on the Town’s Ethics Board by stepping down as Liaison to that Board.
When Councilperson Matters was appointed Ethics
Board Liaison, I wrote “We applaud this appointment and wish Councilperson
Matters the best of luck in this role.”
I am truly sorry to see her step down.
Town Law §42 states “The deputy supervisor shall be
appointed by the supervisor to serve at the pleasure of the supervisor”. Sounds a lot like beholden to one master!
Deputy Supervisor Gilbert was appointed to the
Ethics Board, along with four other members, via party line vote at the
infamous 8:45AM, March 14th Special Meeting.
Councilperson Matters voted in the affirmative. This was legal, in that General Municipal Law
§808.1 requires that “at least one of whom shall be an elected or appointed
officer or employee”.
Legal, yes.
But was it proper and ethical?
Many have expressed opposition to the Deputy
Supervisor Gilbert’s Ethics Board appointment, citing his uber-partisan
behavior and attacks against those with differing opinions (myself included),
as you’ve no doubt seen in his articles in previous Advertisers.
Also, many at the Board Meeting spoke in support of
Ms. Matters’ courageous and noble action, unfortunately, the wrong person stepped down!
I believe Ms. Matters said she’d return as Liaison if he resigns. One can only hope!
Perhaps Councilperson Matters should have publicly
called for Mr. Gilbert to resign from the Ethics Board.
I don’t know, but I’d think Councilperson Matters would
have discussed her intentions with Supervisor Langley beforehand, giving the
Deputy Supervisor the opportunity to do the right thing and resign from the
Ethics Board.
Am I correct to assume that Supervisor Langley’s
and Deputy Supervisor Gilbert’s loyalties to one another are stronger than
their loyalties to the Town, the people of East Greenbush and the Ethics Board?
Again, “the
wrong person stepped down!”
Deputy Supervisor Gilbert should resign from the
Ethics Board!
Pete Stenson
