Town Board Meeting Addresses "Mob"
By Billie Dunn
In an effort to accommodate the expected crowd and to avoid the problems encountered at February's meeting, the Town of Rochester held its town board meeting at the Accord Fire Hall. As seven-o'clock approached the hall began to fill, and by the time the meeting commenced people were beginning to line the walls, while others were still filtering through the doors.
Early into the meeting Supervisor Pam Duke declared that she wished to share the intentions of the town board concerning its interview with Manuela Mihailescu, a candidate for the municipality's Historic Preservation Committee. She has been the subject of much media scrutiny over the past month as allegations linking her and her husband to pornographic websites have been covered in most area publications.
Reading aloud from a prepared speech, Duke suggested that the coverage of the controversy has been one-sided, and the purpose of executive session is to confidentially discuss public matters privately. Once again she explained that because Mihailescu has refused to sign the waiver that would allow the board to discuss the executive session meeting, the matter is still confidential. Some in the audience laughed at the announcement.
"We believe we acted properly and with sensitivity," Duke stated.
Directly following the reading of the statement, Duke motioned whether or not to appoint Mihailescu to the Historic Preservation Committee. Comments were heard throughout the crowd, suggesting that the vote, which was not on the agenda, was inappropriate and uncharacteristic of past appointments. Duke conducted the vote; Councilman Gray voted no, Councilman Spano voted yes, Councilman Miller abstained, and Supervisor Duke voted no. Councilman Santosky, the only Republican on the 4-1 Democrat board, was absent.
Some local residents voiced their disapproval as Duke declared, "We don't have a full board, so that's the way it is."
Afterwards, the board carried on with the agenda, first accepting the minutes of three prior meetings, and moving on with updates and reports. Duke frequently had to restore order, as angry residents spoke amongst themselves.
Following the discussion of new and old business, Duke opened the floor to public comments. Hands went up throughout the audience, and residents brandished signs, all with similar slogans, such as "This is our house" and "The attorney is not our supervisor."
After a number of people voiced their concerns about what they felt was inaccurate representation by the current board, Mihailescu handed out a statement that was intended for the February 1 meeting that ended early at the town board's decision, and began an emotional response to Duke's earlier comments.
"You cannot play with people's lives the way you did with mine," Mihailescu declared, "There is no justification in the world for what you did." This drew applause from the crowded room. After directly responding to the points previously made by Duke, Mihailescu stated that, "The use of the word 'sensitivity,' is the ultimate insult," and before sitting down, she thanked Councilman Spano for his vote.
David O'Halloran, a local business owner and member of the Rochester Republican Club agreed, suggesting that the town attorney, Rod Futerfas, should not have been present at the executive session meeting. He went on to say,"You've never done what you did to Manuela tonight before," he said, "You don't humiliate people. This has a lot to do with Councilman Gray."
Among Mihailescu's many supporters were those who condemned the events of the last month.
"Shame on these people who are acting as a lynch mob," said resident Anne Katz, "I was one of those who was locked out of the last board meeting; it was scary and confusing," she continued, "I commend the board for closing the last meeting, it is the only way a democratic government can deal with a mob."
While some residents hope that the recent controversy has been resolved, others are far from satisfied. The next board meeting, scheduled for Thursday, April 5, will determine whether or not that is the case.
By Billie Dunn
In an effort to accommodate the expected crowd and to avoid the problems encountered at February's meeting, the Town of Rochester held its town board meeting at the Accord Fire Hall. As seven-o'clock approached the hall began to fill, and by the time the meeting commenced people were beginning to line the walls, while others were still filtering through the doors. Early into the meeting Supervisor Pam Duke declared that she wished to share the intentions of the town board concerning its interview with Manuela Mihailescu, a candidate for the municipality's Historic Preservation Committee. She has been the subject of much media scrutiny over the past month as allegations linking her and her husband to pornographic websites have been covered in most area publications.
Reading aloud from a prepared speech, Duke suggested that the coverage of the controversy has been one-sided, and the purpose of executive session is to confidentially discuss public matters privately. Once again she explained that because Mihailescu has refused to sign the waiver that would allow the board to discuss the executive session meeting, the matter is still confidential. Some in the audience laughed at the announcement.
"We believe we acted properly and with sensitivity," Duke stated.
Directly following the reading of the statement, Duke motioned whether or not to appoint Mihailescu to the Historic Preservation Committee. Comments were heard throughout the crowd, suggesting that the vote, which was not on the agenda, was inappropriate and uncharacteristic of past appointments. Duke conducted the vote; Councilman Gray voted no, Councilman Spano voted yes, Councilman Miller abstained, and Supervisor Duke voted no. Councilman Santosky, the only Republican on the 4-1 Democrat board, was absent.
Some local residents voiced their disapproval as Duke declared, "We don't have a full board, so that's the way it is."
Afterwards, the board carried on with the agenda, first accepting the minutes of three prior meetings, and moving on with updates and reports. Duke frequently had to restore order, as angry residents spoke amongst themselves.
Following the discussion of new and old business, Duke opened the floor to public comments. Hands went up throughout the audience, and residents brandished signs, all with similar slogans, such as "This is our house" and "The attorney is not our supervisor."
After a number of people voiced their concerns about what they felt was inaccurate representation by the current board, Mihailescu handed out a statement that was intended for the February 1 meeting that ended early at the town board's decision, and began an emotional response to Duke's earlier comments.
"You cannot play with people's lives the way you did with mine," Mihailescu declared, "There is no justification in the world for what you did." This drew applause from the crowded room. After directly responding to the points previously made by Duke, Mihailescu stated that, "The use of the word 'sensitivity,' is the ultimate insult," and before sitting down, she thanked Councilman Spano for his vote.
David O'Halloran, a local business owner and member of the Rochester Republican Club agreed, suggesting that the town attorney, Rod Futerfas, should not have been present at the executive session meeting. He went on to say,"You've never done what you did to Manuela tonight before," he said, "You don't humiliate people. This has a lot to do with Councilman Gray."
Among Mihailescu's many supporters were those who condemned the events of the last month.
"Shame on these people who are acting as a lynch mob," said resident Anne Katz, "I was one of those who was locked out of the last board meeting; it was scary and confusing," she continued, "I commend the board for closing the last meeting, it is the only way a democratic government can deal with a mob."
While some residents hope that the recent controversy has been resolved, others are far from satisfied. The next board meeting, scheduled for Thursday, April 5, will determine whether or not that is the case.
No comments:
Post a Comment