Year-end meeting raises eyebrows
Democrats say council appointment should be made by incoming board
MALTA — A special meeting on New Year’s Eve to possibly fill the town board seat left vacant by John Hartzell by the outgoing all-republican board is being looked upon with suspicion by the town’s incoming Democrats.
“It’s obvious that the current board wants to have a say on who replaces John,” incoming Supervisor Cynthia Young said. “My opinion is they should not act and let the incoming board decide. But if they do pick someone, I hope they are ready to work and have Malta’s best interest at heart.”
Republican Supervisor Mark Hammond said he did not call the Sunday meeting but said he had no choice to do so during his last hours in office. He said town law dictates he honors the request for a meeting if sought by two members. In this case, the request came from Al Ricci and Craig Warner. Furthermore, he did not promise to be there, saying in a text message that “if I am at the meeting the vacancy will be discussed and possibly fulfilled.”
Without Hammond, however, there will not be a quorum to take action at the meeting. The town’s other Republican board member, Tim Dunn, has already said he will not be attending.
The meeting is intended to discuss a replacement for John Hartzell, who resigned last week with two years left on his term.
The public notice for the New Year’s Eve meeting stated that is not a public hearing. Yet several residents say they plan to go anyway to try to voice their opinions that the appointee should be vetted by the incoming board that will be sworn in the very next day, Jan. 1.
But if a replacement for Hartzell is not appointed on Sunday, the new board will be divided between two Democrats and two Republicans, perhaps making it difficult to appoint a replacement. Yet Young thinks the board can overcome the divide and name someone who would be acceptable to the entire board.
“Actually, I’m confident of that we can find someone we can all agree on,” Young said.
Resident Peter Brooks, a former Planning Board member, said it is likely the current all-republican board wants to ensure a Republican is appointed, which he said is to be expected.
“A Republican left and a Republican will probably be re-appointed,” Brooks said. “I
think the difference is John Hartzell was a reasonable, talented guy. They might replace him with someone who cares more if there is an R or a D in front of his name. (The meeting’s timing) looks manipulative.”
John Cashin, a Saratoga Lake Association board member who keeps an eye on Malta’s lake development, said that Hammond was voted out of office and therefore should have no say in who replaces Hartzell.
“The people of Malta have spoken in that last election, yet the current board is in a rush to impose its will over that of town residents by filling this vacancy on the very eve before the new board members are sworn in,” Cashin said. “It is a last gasp effort to retain majority control of the town board. Malta residents should be outraged by this rush to disenfranchise Malta voters.”
Regardless of who will be named, Hammond said a special election will be called in November for the seat.
The Malta Republican Committee is also experiencing a change of leadership. Members of the Republican committee said
that Chairman Ted Willette has resigned.
It is unclear who will be named to replace Willette. Members says it will likely be Nick Wilock, the committee’s vice chair, who lives in Colonie.