Landis defends herself against criticism
Fredonia Mayor Athanasia Landis defended herself amid more criticism about conduct of village business from Trustee Doug Essek and former Village Attorney Sam Drayo at the Village Board’s meeting last week.
Essek’s comments came during the board workshop previous to the meeting. He first stated that he wanted the board to consider a change to a resolution for its meeting procedures it passed in April. “During the public portion that we have currently, the public can only speak on matters which are germane or what the board would take action on, which would mean the public could only make comments on board agenda items,” Essek said.
“It doesn’t mean that,” Landis replied. “It means something the board could take action on or could influence, either that day or another day. They can’t come here and discuss the train program schedule in Buffalo because there’s nothing you can do about it. But I can come here and discuss something that is going on in the village irrespective of whether you’re going to do something about it that day, or any other day.”
Essek then asked the board to reconsider advertising for an administrator position. Landis has insisted the village does not need to replace its last administrator, Richard St. George, who resigned in July. She thinks that a treasurer and a clerk can take care of St. George’s former duties.
However, Essek said, “I do think there are things that go above and beyond the treasurer position, like human resources and department heads and that sort of thing.”
“That’s why we have a full time village clerk, to do everything else that the administrator was supposed to do,” Landis replied.
“Our administrator was kind of the head of the department heads,” Essek responded.
“The mayor is the head of the department heads,” Landis said.
“In addition to the administrator,” Essek said.
“That’s not in the charter,” the mayor said.
Drayo stood to address the board later, during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“The village has always had consistent practice for many years as long as I can remember of allowing its residents to bring any matters of village concern to the attention of the mayor and trustees,” he said. “To limit or restrict the village’s longtime practice of allowing its residents to freely address their elected representatives on any village matters is undemocratic and a form of censorship.”
“First of all, we never said people cannot address the board,” Landis responded, reiterating what she said to Essek, that anyone with problems that relate to Fredonia business can speak at a board meeting.
“Of course I’m not going to welcome someone who has a problem with his friend and came here to just vent,” she said.
The mayor continued to defend herself during the portion of the meeting set aside for her report.
“Last week a village employee came to my office …. visibly shaken,” she began. “He asked, ‘How are you doing, mayor’? I said, ‘I’m doing fine, thank you.’ He said, ‘No, how are you doing with us?’ I was totally perplexed because I didn’t understand what he said. I said, ‘What exactly do you mean’? He said, ‘I want you to know that I’m here against the advice of my family and friends. I want to know if you plan to fire me.’
“I said, ‘Why in God’s name am I going to do that?’ He said, there is this atmosphere that you are firing people. I said, ‘OK, that’s not true. Let me make sure you understand I’m not firing anybody. … I’m here to make sure that you have your position, not lose your position,'” Landis continued.
“That brought back to me a comment that was made to me about a week ago that people are scared, people are afraid. Of what? Let me make a big announcement. I cannot hire or fire anyone — anyone — in this village,” she asserted. “You know who can do it? The trustees. … I am the biggest supporter of everyone who works for this village. I stand behind each and every one of our employees for what they’re doing. I stood behind Perry Mitchell, for everybody’s information. When people came to me about streets not plowed, I defended him, and I defend everyone who works for this village.
“I would never go against our employees except if they break the law,” she concluded.
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