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by Jim Wood
ACCORD — On Thursday, March 1, the Town of Rochester held their monthly board meeting at the Accord Firehouse Banquet Hall, in front of a jam packed audience, as there were an estimated 100 residents who appeared for the meeting. The venue was changed as a huge turnout was expected after last month's debacle, where residents were locked out of the meeting. The mass of citizens then rallied in protest, using their car horns outside, to disrupt the meeting, inevitably causing the board to postpone, or adjourn, as they could not hear.
Heated debate was expected, as an Ulster County Sheriffs Deputy was on hand to keep things under control, if the situation had called for, as it turned out the deputy was not needed.
The majority of the massive turnout were there in support of local resident Mrs. Manuela Mihailescu, who was volunteering for an appointment on the Rochester Preservation Committee.
In case you are not informed of the situation Mrs. Mihailescu is in with the town board, here is a brief synopsis, her account, of what allegedly took place, during the closed-door meeting. For now all we have to report in detail is Mrs. Mihailescu's version. We cannot print her version of events in its entirety, as several descriptions of the material presented to her are too graphic for newsprint.
Mrs. Mihailescu approached the town to volunteer for the town's preservation committee. Manuela breezed through her initial interview, and was subsequently called back for a second interview, something
which is normally not done. Prior to this second meeting, interview, Mrs. Mihailescu was not instructed, or advised, by the board members interviewing her to bring her husband for accompaniment, as the member's knew in advance that materials of a sensitive nature, including explicit photo's, as well as topic to be discussed, of the same subject, were going to be presented. After all, there were going to be 5 men, plus the supervisor interviewing Manuela in a very small, confined space.
After her first interview, certain members of the board attempted a background check, allegedly finding Mrs. Mihailescu's name associated with a web site of the adult variety. This web site information was presented to Mrs. Mihailescu , which she feels was tactically, as well as purposely done in an ambush manner, completely surprising her. Manuela believed she was there to receive an appointment to a volunteer position, getting completely broadsided by not only the materials presented to her, but the line of questioning as well. Mrs. Mihailescu was so shaken after the interview, that she hit a car in the parking lot, while trying to get home, her first accident in 37 years of driving.
The board will not, and did not respond to questions on the topic of the interview, stating the interview was held in executive session, which is a private matter, not privy to the public, meaning the board must refrain from commenting, as there is a confidentiality that goes with the closed door meetings, and even though Mrs. Mihailescu is speaking publicly on the topic, her privacy must be respected.
The board now wishes Mrs. Mihailescu to sign a waiver stating that the board may speak on the issue of the closed-door meeting and defend itself. Mrs. Mihailescu sees no reason to sign the waiver, as she did not know the meeting was private, never being informed by anyone of its confidential status. After the meeting where she was bombarded with pornographic material, she turned to the local press agencies to get her story out, as she felt she was ambushed, embarrassed, and utterly humiliated by the allegations, as well as the accusations that were made to her. Manuela feels that once she spoke publicly, the confidentiality of it all was thrown out the window, therefore rendering any document a waste of time.
One resident stated during the public forum, that after all this, how can anything the board says on this subject be trusted or believed, whether a waiver is signed or not.
No minutes are held in executive session meetings to prove either version of events, only the parties present know what transpired, and so far only Mrs. Mihailescu is speaking.
Town supervisor, Pam Duke, released a statement on the town's position, it can be found in the letters to the editor section.
After the pledge, and prior to Supervisor Duke reading the board's statement, a public hearing was held on fire prevention, as well as changes, or updates to the building codes. The public hearing was postponed until next month's April meeting.
Members of the preservation committee were on hand to unveil the plans for a new Veterans Park, to honor all veterans who were residents of the town at the time of their enlistment and/or service. This is not limited to war veterans, it is open to all veterans, as all are welcome to sign in, and register at the town hall offices. Donations are being excepted for the purchase, as well as planting of trees and shrubbery. A given amount of $7,500.00 is still needed to complete the project. Stones for the carving of the names were donated by Eastern Correctional Facility, Napanoch, and are reported by Bill Collier Sr. to be over 100 years old. The park will also feature a reflecting pool, with a constant flow, or trickle of water. The park will be located right behind the museum on Main Street. Any and all donations are being accepted at the town's offices.
The board was presented a letter from the Accord First Aid and Rescue squad questioning the amount of money the town had donated to their organization. At first board members thought the letter was a fake, questioning its authenticity. To their dismay the letter was official. According to board members, the letter stated that the rescue squad wanted to know why they only received a $15,000.00 donation instead of an expected $20,000.00 donation. Council member Francis Gray stated, "That if they weren't happy, we could reduce it." Member's of the Accord Fire Department were on hand, and wanted to know why they only received a donation of $1,000.00.
The board passed a few resolutions, one of which was to start taking bids for a new generator for town hall. A boundary line adjustment resolution was passed, as well as a designation of town property for the veterans park project.
After reviewing old business, as well as new business, the board reached the public comment period, which was the reason for the outpouring of local, disenfranchised patriotic taxpaying American citizens. Residents were given 3 minutes each to speak, as the board used a timer for each citizen.
Mrs. Mihailescu spoke on her own behalf, as she was one of the first to speak, reading from a written statement, seemingly intent on challenging the board to defend itself, all the while speaking in a clear, intelligent, and resounding voice. At times Mrs. Mihailescu seemed to be getting ready to break down, then all at once she would gather herself, never missing a beat, and continue to read on. Manuela spoke until her three minutes were up, having not yet finished speaking. After a few groans from the crowd, as well as a few citizens volunteering their own time, the board allowed Manuela to continue. Mrs. Mihailescu closed with the following words:
"This is to publicly deny any and all allegations and accusations made by board members regarding the association of my name with an adult site."
"This is to condemn the orchestrated interview-attack, the hostile way in which I was treated, the vicious way in which I was accused, a tragic reminder of my life in communist Romania."
"I was shocked, Harassed, humiliated, and threatened, and I continue to feel this way."
"Town board officials, you cannot play with people's lives the way you did...you cannot ruin people's lives the way you tried. Not without being accountable, and facing consequences. Because there is no justification in the world for what you did..."
"You have no idea what wounds you have re-opened... As an immigrant, I escaped totalitarian oppression, the United States granted me political asylum to be protected, not attacked or threatened". Signed,"Manuela Mihailescu."
Many residents spoke on Manuela's behalf, including a member of a local school board, who after making a most eloquent and biting statement, stated, "The tea party begins tonight." Many residents held signs, some reading "This is our house," "The board works for us," as well as one that read "We will be heard."
Many times during the meeting residents were instructed they were out of order, by a shout of the same, and a bang of the gavel. The board noted on more than one occasion during the meeting that public comment is a privilege, not a right.
After thirty minutes of the public forum, the board closed the meeting, leaving many residents without a turn to speak, but not before this reporter asked two questions.
"Is it true the town's highway Superintendent asked for NO increase in his 2007 highway budget from his 2006 budget, and he was told no?"
The board seemed to ask for clarification, then was asked "Is it true the Highway Superintendent asked for no increase in his budget, but he was told no, that, that couldn't be done, as it would make the others on the board look bad?" The board answered with "we have no info on that."
Highway Superintendent Wayne Kelder verified, in fact, he had requested no increase in his budget, and was told that by taking no increase, it would make the rest of the departments, or members look bad.
The board was also asked "Why is the Town of Rochester's town supervisor position now a full time position, and what has changed to the business district to warrant the large pay increase?"
The second question was asked as the meeting was closing, leaving this reporter with a no comment response, as well as four or five citizens surrounding me, angry at the questions that I had asked.
There were several more questions this reporter wanted to ask, but the usual ten minutes after the event for the press to ask questions on the topics that arose from the evening's meeting was not given on this night.
The board, as well as attending citizens may state the questions this reporter asked did not pertain to topics discussed during the evening. This is not entirely true, as during the business reports section of the meeting, the board reported no new business. After reporting of the supervisor's pay increases in our issue two weeks ago, which by the way went up in total an estimated 80%, as well as the town supervisor position now being a full time job, and with an increase in property taxes, this reporter believes those to be valid questions.
After pay increases of a staggering amount, as well as a part time job being promoted to full time to justify pay increases, there should be more new business to report, than No New Business. The next Town of Rochester Board meeting will be held on April 7.
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