Representatives for two individuals facing charges that correlate with a scandal at the West Albany Rod and Gun Club have responded to Colonie Town Supervisor’s request to open the doors at the individual’s hearings on the charges, scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 20, and Thursday, Aug. 21.
The individuals, Public Works Operations Supervisor William Neeley and Highway Maintenance Supervisor Thomas Romano were not available for comment, nor were their attorney, but according to UPSEU Regional Coordinator Kathy Wright, who is speaking on behalf of the parties, the decision to open the hearing doors to the public will be up to Neeley, Romano and their attorney, and has not been decided on as of yet.
Wright said she was away from her office when the letter from the Town arrived, though she received it yesterday (Tuesday, Aug. 12) and faxed the Town her response the same day. In the letter from the Town, Wright said, Supervisor Mahan had denied that the Town’s motivations against Neeley and Romano were political, something Wright was earlier reported to have said.
Wright would not speak, specifically, about the charges against Neeley and Romano, but did say, We’re fairly sure that it’s politically motivated.
`You have two long-term Town employees who have spotless records and all of a sudden they’re being hung out to dry for something that was a big political piece for the supervisor to use to run for office,` she said.
Wright also said that in the Town’s letter to her, the supervisor had said that the board had voted unanimously against Neeley and Romano, to which Wright replied, `I don’t think I’ve ever seen a public official stoop to such a low level.`
For more on this story, check back at www.spotlightnews.com, or read the Aug. 20 print edition of the Colonie Spotlight.
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