Editorial

Chaos and conflict in Montgomery

Posted 6/12/19

A video showing Village of Montgomery Police attempting to eject former Montgomery Town Supervisor Susan Cockburn from a public meeting last week had been seen via social media by approximately 9,000 …

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Editorial

Chaos and conflict in Montgomery

Posted

A video showing Village of Montgomery Police attempting to eject former Montgomery Town Supervisor Susan Cockburn from a public meeting last week had been seen via social media by approximately 9,000 people by Sunday night.

Cockburn was one of many to attend a public meeting of the Montgomery Village Board in which representatives of the proposed Medline warehouse project were on hand to answer questions about the project that will surely impact the village and surrounding areas. Medline Industries has proposed a 1.3 million square foot warehouse on land located just outside the village limits. The meeting was intended to be an informational meeting about the project, and for residents to ask questions and voice concerns.

But Cockburn, a vocal critic of the project whose property overlooks Ward’s Bridge on the very outskirts of the village, was not permitted to speak. Mayor Stephen Brescia interrupted her, telling her the meeting was for village residents only. He ordered village police to eject her and was heard to yell “arrest her.” She was led away from the microphone and, though she eventually returned, was not allowed to read a prepared statement or ask any questions to the Medline representative.

Bullying tactics are nothing new for Brescia, Montgomery’s (30-year) mayor-for-life who also collects a public salary as Chairman of the Orange County Legislature. Public dissent is often quashed in the village and the Wallkill Valley Times, which has given voice to some of these critics, has been a particular target of his wrath, having been stripped of the “official newspaper” designation at least twice and threatened at least one other time.

To be clear, the village board was not required to host a forum on the project located outside its limits, but chose to do so. The paid public notice, which did not appear in the Wallkill Valley Times (we are being punished for apparently not providing enough favorable coverage to the mayor) but did appear on the village website, said nothing about the meeting being for village residents only.

That’s because, by law, it cannot be restricted, according to the New York State Public Officers Meeting Law and Robert Freeman, who directs the state’s committee on open government. A public meeting is just that, a meeting that is open to the general public. Brescia permitted at least one non-village resident to speak. To selectively choose who can speak and who cannot based on personal preference is to abuse the power of your elected office. To treat residents without common courtesy is to embarrass the people who elect you time and time again.

Moreover, public interest suggests that there’s no practical reason to suppress anyone who might have a legitimate question or concern. Medline officials should also be glad to have the opportunity to clear up any issues that may be raised during the public vetting process.

Finally, the issue of conflict of interest comes into question. A project that arguably looks good to the Orange County Legislature (i.e. more jobs, more tax revenue) may not look good to the village (potential traffic and environment concerns). Legislator Brescia, in whose district resides the very same Susan Cockburn he sought to silence, may have to choose which side he is on.

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