John and Mary?

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Author Message   pan Citizen Username: Pan Post Number: 43 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 2:55 pm:        Trustee Rosner, "multiple sources have confirmed that our Trustee is in fact intimately involved with our Village Administrator" This Mayhewdrive's post in another thread is the third source for me with the information that Village Trustee Mary Theroux has an intimate relationship with Village Administrator John Gross. As one of the concerned citizens whose vote you are going to ask for next May, I ask you to please respond to the following questions: 1) When did you first hear of this information and from whom? 2) Do you think that an elected public official, employer of the municipal employees, may have an intimate relationship with the head of the municipal employees, without presenting any risk of conflict of interest, legal or ethical, in the operation of their duties? 3) If you believe that such a conflict of interest does exist, what did you do, or what are you planning to do, now that the information is out in the open? 4) If you do not believe that such a conflict may exist, who is going to be the watchdog to ensure that when employee performance and salaries are reviewed by the Village Trustees, that Trustee Theroux is going to be impartial to her "liaison"? 5) If you do not believe that such a conflict may exist, how do you explain Trustee Theroux's wholehearted support of the present Quarry scheme of 69 units, which was negotiated by John Gross (together with Ed Matthews and Chris Hartwyk) and presented to the public by John Gross as an excellent solution? 6) If you do not believe that such a conflict may exist, how are you going to ensure the next time John Gross presents a proposal to the Village Trustees, that Trustee Theroux's vote will be impartial? 7) Outside the legal and ethical ramifications of such conflict of interest, what do you think the Villagers' perception of the operations of their government is going to be? Your response, Trustee Rosner, to these questions will be greatly appreciated.   goodsense Citizen Username: Goodsense Post Number: 13 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 4:33 pm:        The government should be set up with proper checks and balances to ensure that the population is protected from those who wish to improperly enrich themselves at the people's expense regardless of their relationship. The system shouldn't fall to pieces if two people fall in love. You should not worry about who is sleeping together. It is very childish to concern yourself with such matters. Most corruption is not a result of sex. I hope the rumors are true and that they are happy together. If President Bush could "get a little" once in a while then maybe he wouldn't be so concerned about taking over the world.   mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 149 Registered: 4-2002 Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 4:55 pm:        Pan: I originally agreed to post on this message board so that there would be at least one village trustee available to answer questions. I do not think it is really fair to ask me to answer questions about whether a rumor is true or not. I also think it would be better if this question came from someone who gave their real name. I do not want to be held to a different standard than the other trustees just because I post on this board. I would hope that if someone is going to vote for me, it is based on what I have done (or not done) and not based on what another trustee does. If a trustee and a department head (or administrator)are having a relationship, then there are certainly issues that there would be a conflict. The trustee involved would have to recuse themself from any conversation or vote on such an issue. I would hope and expect the village attorney would let that trustee know when there is a conflict and tell them they cannot vote or participate in a specific discussion. I don't think another trustee should be telling another trustee when they can vote or not vote. Since there are five other trustees, I am sure that we can manage to vote without being influenced by any suggested conflict. At no time would I try and explain why another trustee votes or supports (or vice-versa) any issue. The board of trustees agreed that the current proposed development in the quarry is far superior to what the developer has the right to build (according to the courts) so in essence, the board has endorsed this plan. Since the planning board has to vote on it, at this point there is no conflict for Trustee Theroux. If the villagers feel there is a conflict, and I am sure there are some issues that will be (assuming there is a relationship), then there will certainly be a negative perception of the village government. However I remind you that with six trustees plus the village president, there is and has been much open discussion on every issue. For now, I would like to hold off on further comment at least till the rumor is confirmed, otherwise I think the discussion should be dropped.   pan Citizen Username: Pan Post Number: 44 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 5:04 pm:        Trustee Rosner, Thank you for your response.