Thursday, March 4, 2021
Subscriber Login
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Community
    • Covid-19 Updates
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber LogIn
    • Join us – Subscribe Today
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Community
    • Covid-19 Updates
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber LogIn
    • Join us – Subscribe Today
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Government

Three Bethlehem board members abstain from vote to approve appointment to fill entry-level position

Michael Hallisey by Michael Hallisey
February 17, 2021
in Government, News
0
Bethlehem DPW official arrested for alleged cocaine possession

Bethlehem Town Hall. Spotlight file photo

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

DELMAR — Bethlehem Town Board members reached a rare stalemate while scrutinizing the appointment of an entry level position in its human resources department.

Of the board’s five members, three abstained from voting on Wednesday, Feb 11. The no-votes thus prevented the motion to hire Katelyn Berger as a personnel assistant from passing. Recent hirings have earned the board’s approval without cursory discussion, but this one prompted a half-hour discussion over ethics. Berger is also Town Board Member Jim Foster’s domestic partner.

Berger was selected from the county’s civil service list among a field of three candidates. Mary Tremblay-Glassman, the town’s human resources director, said her department had canvased qualified candidates based on the results of a 2019 exam. After interviews, Tremblay-Glassman said, she was the best fit.

The interview process did not reveal Berger’s relationship with the town board member. And, Tremblay-Glassman said, she was under no legal obligation to share the information.

Foster, however, disclosed Berger as his domestic partner to board members while agenda items were discussed the previous Friday. It was then he shared he would have to recuse himself from any debate and abstain from Wednesday night’s vote. Before that, neither Tremblay-Glassman nor Town Supervisor David VanLuven knew of her relationship with the board member.

Town Board Member Joyce Becker raised concerns over the appointment when she thought the Town was under a hiring freeze. Tremblay-Glassman said departments have been hiring to fill vacancies. Most recently, the police department has hired a secretary and a communications person. Both were approved by the board. Nonetheless, Becker abstained, suggesting the Town reassess staffing needs as many employees now work from home.

Town Board Member Maurren Cunningham expressed varying concerns ranging from nepotism to security. Before the meeting, she said she raised a hypothetical question with VanLuven as to whether or not he would take issue with her sister taking the same job. She said he would have taken an issue, as it would be viewed more as a political move.

Cunningham’s sister is Albany County Legislator and Bethlehem Democratic Chairperson Joanne Cunningham.

Cunningham shared that she was still uneasy with the thought that someone related to a board member would have access to sensitive files. She, too, abstained.

Though it was clear the vote faced three abstentions, VanLuven and Town Board Member Dan Coffey voted yes to the appointment. The town supervisor shared that, outside of vetting department head candidates, he trusted the human resources department with the hiring process.

Board members agreed to revisit the vote in two week following further discussion over Cunningham and Becker’s issues.

This story was edited at 8:57 to correct two errors.

Share this to twitter or facebook:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Tags: Bethlehem Town Board
Previous Post

Catapult Games teams up with Schenectady Police Department 

Next Post

American Cancer Society is bringing back Daffodil Days

Next Post
American Cancer Society is bringing back Daffodil Days

American Cancer Society is bringing back Daffodil Days

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

  • 7.1k Fans
  • 4.6k Fans
  • 609 Fans
  • 357 Subscribers

Recent News

FIVE QUESTIONS: Kathleen Farrell-Decker

FIVE QUESTIONS: Kathleen Farrell-Decker

March 4, 2021
Bethlehem DPW official arrested for alleged cocaine possession

Entry level hire gets through Bethlehem Town board

March 4, 2021
Shaker grad writes her first novel

Shaker grad writes her first novel

March 3, 2021
Bethlehem DPW official arrested for alleged cocaine possession

Bethlehem GOP names candidates

March 3, 2021

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
UPDATED (w/video): Police investigating break-ins in Delmar neighborhoods

UPDATED (w/video): Police investigating break-ins in Delmar neighborhoods

February 22, 2021

Johnathan testifies; Porco brothers don’t look at each other

July 26, 2006
Conservative Richie Stack ‘seriously considering’ run for supervisor in Colonie

WFP endorses three of its own for Colonie Town Board

February 26, 2021
Record wind gusts knock power out for thousands across Albany County

Record wind gusts knock power out for thousands across Albany County

March 2, 2021
FIVE QUESTIONS: Kathleen Farrell-Decker

FIVE QUESTIONS: Kathleen Farrell-Decker

March 4, 2021
Bethlehem DPW official arrested for alleged cocaine possession

Entry level hire gets through Bethlehem Town board

March 4, 2021
Shaker grad writes her first novel

Shaker grad writes her first novel

March 3, 2021
Bethlehem DPW official arrested for alleged cocaine possession

Bethlehem GOP names candidates

March 3, 2021
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Opinion
  • Subscribe
  • Log In
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949