February 11, 2009Sparks Fly at Sardinia Town Board Meeting
Hannon No Longer on ZBA
Sparks flew at tonight’s Sardinia Town Board meeting when Heather Phelps moved to adopt a Resolution removing Sardinia Republican Committee Chair and former Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Chair Mike Hannon from the ZBA. Councilman Uhteg seconded the motion. The action resulted from a decision by the Board to correct a mistake that had been made by the Town Board in 2004. Recently, a citizen pointed out the mistake that was made during the 2004 Town Board reorganizational meeting. that mistake incorrectly switched Mr. Hannons ZBA terms expiration date with Lewis Markle’s. Town Attorney Tony DiFillippo researched Town Board records and discovered that a mistake had indeed been made and the controversial Hannon’s term had actually expired on December 31 of last year.
The resolution passed at this Board meeting removed Hannon and reinstated Mr. Markle, whose term actually expires on December 31 of this year. Town Clerk Betsy Marsh told the Board that this mix-up was her mistake. “ I am the one that mixed up the dates.” She told the Board. Later Councilman Mary Hannon, Mike Hannons wife who opposed the resolution told the Board that “this was not a mistake and that someone should ask former councilman Carla Fuller, -because Fuller told me that that Hannon’s 2004 appointment (to the incorrect term), was deliberate.”
This would mean that the 2004 Town Board decided to appoint Markle to a four-year term, and Hannon, who had been serving as an interim appointment, to a six-year term. That may have been illegal. According to the resolution passed tonight, the 2004 appointment was“inconsistent with NYS law” which prescribes five-year terms.
Before the vote was taken Mary Hannon told the board, “You don’t know what you are doing, you don’t know what you are opening up here.” She then went on to say “The ZBA compromised with Gernatt Gravel to prevent problems. This decision is going to cause a lot of trouble.”
The resolution passed 3-0 with Balus, Phelps, and Uhteg voting for, and Mary Hannon and David Montgomery abstaining.
Later during the "question and answer period" reserved for public comment, Mike Hannon stood and speaking directly to Supervisor Balus said, referring to his removal from the ZBA- “You are tampering. This is a fixed vote. If it is not fixed why was Mr. Markle informed nearly two weeks ago that I would be removed and he would be replacing me. You had this vote predetermined and it is a fixed vote”
At that point Dave Malachowski, current ZBA chair, rose to take exception to Mr. Hannons remarks. he said, “I made a courtesy call to Mr. Markle telling him that there may have been a mistake by the 2004 Board and that he may in fact be still on the ZBA. Since we have an upcoming ZBA meeting, I wanted him to know that the Town Board may take action prior to that, and that might reinstate him. I told him that he should be prepared to attend the next ZBA meeting.
At this point Mr. Hannons voice grew loud and he shouted at Malachowski, “I have the floor here and this is all BS. Markle called me immediately to report this.” At this point, The town constable stood up and moved toward the front of the room to move in front of Hannon who was red faced and shouting in a threatening manner. This gave the Supervisor an opening to speak. She hammered her gavel. “This is a time to ask questions not a time to make political speeches and Mr. Malachowski, Mr. Hannon, the vote this evening was a procedural act, according to law, not an act for any other reason. We just need to clean this up.”
At the end of the meeting Mr. Hannon approached Supervisor Balus and started making more threatening gestures toward the video camera and live audio which streams Board meetings on the internet. This service is provided by Jim Witter for the Hometown Information Center Website and has raised the ire of some of the Republicans that have served on the Town Board in the past. Hannons voice rose considerably as he repeatedly said "This is Bullshit Bullshit. this camera should not be on!" Again the constable took notice and moved to intervene between the Supervisor and the controversial former ZBA chair, who is also the Republican Committee Chair. Gene Parczyk, one of Sardinia's outspoken citizens and a supporter of the Sardinia Republican Committee, had also shouted at tonights meeting. At this point, according to numerous witnesses, while Hannon continued to "complain" agressively to Balus, Parczyk moved in front of Witter’s video camera and pretended to moon it. Class act there!
