OBSERVER Photo by Nicole Gugino Fredonia Streets Department Superintendent Perry Mitchell said his department has been overwhelmed by the amount of brush following the March 1 storm.

Perry Mitchell thanks many people in his retirement letter to the village of Fredonia, but the longtime Department of Public Works employee reserves his last paragraph to explain that “recent events” in the village made him step down.

Village Board Trustee Doug Essek tried to read the letter on Mitchell’s behalf at a Sept. 24 meeting, but Mayor Athanasia Landis refused to let him, stating the document could not be disseminated because it concerned personnel issues and did not concern any board business.

The OBSERVER asked Essek for the letter and he emailed it. The trustee wrote that Mitchell was allowing him to release it.

The letter begins with Mitchell noting he started working at Fredonia’s DPW on Feb. 15, 1977. He discusses changes to the department during his tenure, positions he has held there and challenges he faced in his career.Mitchell goes on to thank “the many men and women I was blessed to work with side by side and the residents of the village for allowing me to serve you all these years and most importantly my wife and family.” He also specifically thanks several village officials, including former Highway Superintendents Phil DeJoe and Chico LaScola, whom he calls his “mentors.”

The part which was critical of village government was the last paragraph. In full, it reads: “In closing, I had intended to extend my career a few more years, but after recent events and the manner in which our mayor chooses to eliminate any person who opposes an opinion that does not agree with her own, I felt it was time to step down. I hold myself up to a high standard of integrity for the job I’ve done for the village and I will not start compromising it now.”

In a phone interview, Mitchell said he was “very disappointed” Landis refused to let Essek read his letter. “My letter was not written to slam anybody, but I just wanted the public to know why I was retiring,” he said. Landis’ move was “kind of a slap in the face, personally,” he added.

Mitchell is the second prominent, longtime village of Fredonia employee to resign this summer and cites relations with Landis as one of the reasons. Longtime Village Administrator Richard St. George left in July, citing a “hostile work environment.”

“My concern with this matter is that there is a pattern here and them naming the mayor as a reason for them leaving employment with the village,” Essek said.

Mitchell said, “There’s a track record here … the public needs to realize that the dust settles from one issue and there’s another in the same vein.”

“I’m not a disgruntled employee, as the infamous attorney to the village (Dan Gard) stated,” Mitchell concluded. “I’m happily retired. I couldn’t bring this out in the open when I was an employee, now I’m no longer an employee. The public needs to know the truth.”

The full text of the letter follows:

To: Mayor & Village Board of Trustees & Village taxpayers

It is with sincere regret that I inform you that I will be retiring from village employment effective September 29, 2018. I have spent my 42 year career as an employee of the Department of Public Works which began on February 15, 1977.

I have seen many, many changes throughout my career. Some good, some not so good. I have seen the size of the department change from 23 employees when I started to 13 currently. The work load has not diminished in that time span however. Yet the department continues to complete required tasks on a daily basis.

I began as a laborer in 1977 and have worked my way through the ranks to a Motor Equipment Operator, a working foreman and last year I was appointed as the Highway Supervisor/Streets Commissioner.

The challenges along the way have been educational yet frustrating at times. My first month as the department head we experienced 23 water main breaks in a two week period. Then followed by an extremely bad winter and then a high wind event that felled an extraordinarily high number of trees. Yet the crew of 12 and myself pushed through and dealt with each and every one of these issues efficiently and professionally with no complaint. That is what a “Public Employee” does.

In my tenure I have worked with and for some great people. Highway Superintendents and mentors Phil DeJoe and Richard “Chico” LaScola. I have been guided by some wonderful Board members as well, Mayors Lou Mancuso, Frank Pagano and Steven Keefe and Village Administrators James Sedota and Richard St. George.

To conclude my letter of resignation I would like to thank the people I have mentioned for all they have helped me with and the many men and women I was blessed to work side by side with and the residents of the Village for allowing me to serve you all these years and most importantly my wife and family who went without my presence for many holidays and numerous special occasions while I served the village of Fredonia.

In closing, I had intended to extend my career a few more years, but after recent events and the manner in which our mayor chooses to eliminate any person who opposes an opinion that does not agree with her own, I felt it was time to step down. I hold myself up to a high standard of integrity for the job I’ve done for the village and I will not start compromising it now.

Sincerely,

Perry Mitchell