‘Showing up’ an issue in clerk’s race

HANOVER -- After finishing out his third term as supervisor of the Town of Hanover, Todd Johnson hopes to transition to the role of town clerk.

Comments in support of his opposition, however, highlighted his frequent absences from Town Board meetings as a cause for concern.

"It's about more than showing up," said Shawn J. Smith, Town of Hanover Republican Chairman. "But you have to show up."

Smith, in a letter in support of "political newcomer" Town Clerk candidate Elizabeth VanCheri, highlighted Johnson's lack of attendance at Town Board meetings as a reason to not elect him as the next Town Clerk.

"Supervisor Johnson's attendance record for his current term has been less than stellar," Smith stated. He highlighted that Johnson missed 17 of the 67 regular or reorganizational Town Board meetings in his current term as town supervisor.

"Missing 25% of meetings that you are supposed to be running is not leadership," Smith stated. Smith also noted Johnson missed four of the 10 meetings from May through September of this year.

In many ways, Johnson has shown up time and time again for his community. In addition to 12 years as Supervisor, Johnson is a 32-year member of the Silver Creek Fire Department, including 15 years as Chief Officer. He has also been President of the Silver Creek Fireman's Club for the past 27 years.

Johnson also was a recipient of the Silver Creek-Irving Chamber of Commerce Award for Community Service in 1993 and was a previous Director and President of the Festival of Grapes.

But his many roles come with responsibilities, and at many times, those responsibilities have stood in the way of Johnson's attendance for Town Board meetings.

"As an elected official, you cannot possibly make every meeting," Johnson said.

Johnson highlighted Fire Company meetings – separate from the Silver Creek Fire Department – along with meetings with other representatives regarding projects pertaining to the Town of Hanover – such as engineers for water district projects – as reasons for missing recent meetings.

"There are times where you do have to break away and have to meet with people. Unfortunately, it could be on the second or fourth Monday of the month," Johnson said.

Johnson stated that the second Monday of the month, which is when Hanover holds its regular meetings, Johnson has four meetings regularly scheduled on the same night each month. Hanover also frequently holds a second meeting on the fourth Monday of the month.

Johnson is a full-time retail manager in addition to his duties with the Town of Hanover and various other organizations. He highlighted short-staffing issues at his full-time job as a challenge that has impacted his attendance, as he often has to pick up extra shifts at work. However, if elected as Town Clerk, Johnson intends to resign from his full-time job to focus on the Town of Hanover.

"This is a full-time job as Town Clerk," Johnson said. "I do have a couple of things I'd like to see go forward that we haven't done in my administration. ... We're in the 21st century, there are things that we can do better."

Smith stated that while there is "more to the job than showing up to public meetings", Johnson's list of accomplishments as Town Supervisor were not impressive.

"With a 12-year track record to run on, you would think there would be numerous accomplishments to tout. Sadly, for the town, that's not the case," Smith said.

In a press release regarding his candidacy, Johnson highlighted the successful transition from the dissolution of the Village of Forestville, along with $7.4 million of funding obtained for upgrades at the wastewater treatment facility, and infrastructure that was implemented within the town facilities to make day-to-day operations compliant with current regulations among the accomplishments of his time as Town Supervisor.

"I have always kept the taxpayers' interests in mind and have been very conservative with our budgeting process. My goal is to keep working with a great group of elected officials from different parties. I have always been one to work for the residents first and foremost and not a political party," Johnson stated.

Smith endorsed VanCheri for Town Clerk, who he labeled the "Public Face" of the town. Smith claimed VanCheri "will be 100% invested in the job."

VanCheri, the Hanover Court Clerk, has worked in some capacity or partnership with organizations such as the Girl Scouts, Girls on the Run, Little League, Hanover Travel Baseball, and Silver Creek Softball and Soccer Booster Clubs.

A 25-year resident of the area, VanCheri hopes to improve the town's website, which has been criticized by The New York Coalition For Open Government, as well as creating a social media presence for the town. VanCheri also secured Grant Funding for the Town Court for furniture and office upgrades, along with the new Judge's Chambers.

Under Johnson's leadership, Smith claims many of the duties as Town Supervisor have been ceded to the current Town Clerk, Tim Crino, who is set to retire at the end of the year. Johnson is running to replace Crino. Smith also criticized Johnson for not being available or responsive, claiming the role of Town Clerk is not a "No Show job."

"The list of people who couldn't get a return phone call from the current Supervisor is long but distinguished. Representatives from Federal, State, and County Government, along with people from the business community, have all complained about the lack of responsiveness on the part of Supervisor Johnson. The most recent being a nearly missed flood mitigation Grant opportunity that was neglected for months because the Supervisor wouldn't return a phone call," Smith stated. "The Town of Hanover deserves better."