We could cut to the chase here and conclude that since the honoree is satisfied with things the way they are, and the former supervisor deserves to be recognized, let it be.
Not to muddy already turbid waters, but why couldn’t Saugerties follow Kingston’s example in honoring World War II sergeant Robert Dietz, its only Medal of Honor winner, and rededicate the town ballpark? What had been Municipal Stadium was renamed Dietz Stadium when Dietz’s remains were brought home fromEurope in 1948. Roger Donlon, however humble, deserves no less.
Revolving door
Every now and then I read something in the papers that causes me to exclaim, “Yes! That should be above the door in every government building.”
Here I’m referring to Saugerties Town Supervisor Kelly Myers’ forthright declaration of the public’s right to know.
Reacting to the secrecy surrounding a tentative agreement between the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the city’s Department of Environmental Protection regarding regulation of water releases into the lower Esopus, Myers declared, “Negotiating behind the scene with DEC and not including local partners is truly offensive. Not being part of the conversation, not knowing what’s going on, not having a say in it, not having a look at any of the documents before they go out to the public, having it all imposed upon us, is tremendously disrespectful to everyone locally.”
To which I say, “Hooray, Kelly!”
But just as I was lining up the marching band, another one of those dismaying local controversies broke out in Saugerties.
A few weeks ago, Democratic Town Justice Wendy Ricks resigned to take a full-time job with the county Department of Social Services. Good for attorney Ricks, a competent jurist, solidly re-elected last year.
As per regulation, the town board invited interested people to submit resumes to fill in for Ricks until an election will be held in November. Reportedly, seven were interviewed with former probation officer Claudia Andreassen, a Democrat, appointed by a four-to-one vote. (The board consists of three independents and two Republicans.) All were declared wonderful candidates, after which the board refused to release their names.
Bob Freeman, director of the toothless state Open Government Committee, advised the board was under no obligation to make public the names. But neither was it under any restriction not to do so. And yet, the board refused.
Here, the band and I muttered a collective “Huh?”
Only a few days prior, the town supervisor had declared public secrecy “truly offensive” and “tremendously disrespectful.”
I guess it depends on whose ox is gored.
