The snow may have been falling outside, but fireworks were flying inside at the Tuesday, Feb. 12, Guilderland Town Board meeting.
The meeting marked the third time the Democrat-dominated board has met since the addition of two Republican board members, Mark Grimm and Warren Redlich, and it doesn’t appear the two parties are any closer to getting along.
Before business could begin, the board found itself at a standstill involving a dispute over the addition of an item to the agenda. Redlich had requested a discussion of the town’s property assessment process be added. Specifically, he sought to address what he believes are assessment disparities involving two properties on Western Avenue. Supervisor Kenneth Runion declined to add the item to the agenda. Before voting on approval of the minutes from the previous meeting, Redlich made his displeasure known.
I believe it was inappropriate for you to refuse to put this on the agenda, said Redlich. `I don’t think it is unreasonable for me to ask to have an item on the agenda.`
A half-hour feud ensued with Runion and Redlich trading words with each other.
Runion questioned whether Redlich had discussed the zoning issue with the town assessor or Zoning Board of Appeals, citing that as the proper protocol. Redlich responded he had not, in part, because he believed the assessment process should be discussed as a whole before the board.
`The proper procedure is to discuss these problems with the assessor,` said Runion, adding he did not want the item added to the board’s agenda. `The supervisor sets the agenda. If you have a problem with that, you should run for supervisor.`
When Grimm pressed the supervisor on whether that was an endorsement, Runion responded, `I don’t think anybody would want to endorse you.`
Redlich reminded the board this was an issue he centered his election campaign on, going so far as to wave his campaign sign in the air that read, `Fair Tax Assessment.`
Fellow Republican Mark Grimm backed Redlich’s request, `The assessment issue is an important issue in the town of Guilderland. We believe it is a broken assessment process, and we want to fix it.`
Grimm said 600 Guilderland residents challenged their property assessments in 2005, to which Runion pointed out less than 20 did so in 2006.
`That’s because people feel it’s not useful to challenge based on the process,` replied Grimm.
Failing to reach a compromise regarding the agenda item, the board then voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the previous meeting and proceed.
The feud left at least one spectator in the crowd shaking his head.
`I’m very distressed by what I’m seeing here,` said Doug Smith of McKownville as he addressed the board. `You’re wasting the taxpayers’ money, and I really want you to stop that.`
The calm didn’t last long. After approving a handful of items the board soon reached another impasse, this time regarding the promotion of Guilderland police officer Eric Batchelder to sergeant. Citing concerns about a possible violation of police department policy, Grimm requested the board enter into executive session to discuss a personnel matter.
Democratic board members and the supervisor questioned the validity of the information.
`I would just like to know the source of the information so that I can satisfy myself that you actually have a source,` said Runion to Grimm. `I don’t want to go into executive session on unsubstantiated rumor.`
Grimm said he would not divulge the source of the information, either in public or in executive session, citing a concern for negative repercussions against the informant. After a 20-minute discussion, the board eventually voted in favor of entering into executive session with Runion casting the only opposing vote.
The meeting’s tone prompted the town clerk of eight years, Rosemary Centi, to exit the meeting, saying aloud, `I’m ashamed to be a part of this board.`
The board met behind closed doors for more than two hours before voting unanimously to approve the promotion of the officer.
In other action, the board voted 3-to-2, along party lines, to have attorney Claudia Ryan represent the town in possible litigation brought by acting Guilderland Police Chief Carol Lawlor and Lieutenant Curtis Cox, both of whom are vying for the available police chief position. Both Lawlor and Cox have hired attorney Paul Clyne to represent them in a possible case of discriminatory bias resulting from comments made by Redlich in which he refers to the two officers as `political flunkies` on a Times Union blog. Ryan would be paid $175 an hour and a retainer not to exceed $2,650.“