Millerton Village Board weighs in on officials’ misconduct

MILLERTON — Reaction regarding a profane message written on a dirty window on the front door to Steed Real Estate last month, done at the hands of village Planning Board member Peter Greenough, with his wife, Deputy Mayor Christine Bates, watching, has been mixed. The episode was caught on a security camera, and Greenough admitted to his having written the obscenity. He said it was all in good fun.

Some agree, and have said that the message, “F*** Ron,” was nothing more than a joke. They feel that all should be forgiven and forgotten. 

Others have said the message was not in the least bit funny, and those involved should be held responsible, possibly removed from public office.

The matter came before the Village Board on Monday, Oct. 2, with the full board present. Trustee Stephen Waite raised the issue.

“Information was brought to our attention concerning a Planning Board member and the deputy mayor,” he said, noting that he shared his thoughts about it with Mayor Debbie Middlebrook prior to the meeting. “I think Peter should again consider resigning. If not, I think he should be removed from the board.”

As far as Bates goes, Waite said, he was “disappointed by her inaction.

“I think we can all find ourselves in a situation that’s not very good, but I think something should be done,” he said. “You can all talk to the mayor. I spoke to the mayor and that’s where I stand.”

When asked, Middlebrook said the discussion “does not qualify for an executive session,” — a closed-door session without the public present. 

Trustee Jenn Najdek spoke next.

“I agree with Stevie,” she said, “we can all find ourselves in situations where we’re hanging around the wrong people or the right people, and things can get out of control.”

The test, she said, is how people behave when they think no one is looking.

“It was very clear on that video that neither of you felt anyone was looking,” she said. “It was very disheartening.”

Najdek continued that she ran for office in the footsteps of her late mother, former Mayor Mariley Najdek, whom she always strives to make proud.

“I’m not very proud of this at all,” Najdek said. “I agree with Stephen, Peter should consider resigning or be removed.”

She went further, adding Bates should perhaps be removed as deputy mayor. That position, second in command of the village, is appointed by the mayor.

Trustee Dave Sherman said the action clearly “was not something that was accidental,” and that it “would probably be appropriate if Peter were to step down.”

He then addressed Bates, sitting next to him at the board table.

“Christine, I’m very disappointed that you didn’t exercise some control and say ‘Stop that,’” he said. “You have to think what your continued service will be with the village as far as being deputy mayor. You really are a representative of the mayor in her absence.”

Bates then made a statement.

“My husband, Peter Greenough, admittedly exercised very poor judgment,” she said, adding he’s apologized. “It was a private prank for Ron alone and went unnoticed by passersby. Peter sought to draw Ron’s attention to a dirty window. In hindsight, Ron did not take it as the joke it was meant to be. This was not my doing, but I apologize to all of you.”

The mayor said she has “not come to a firm decision” on what she plans to do, but will do so by the board’s next meeting, set for Monday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. “Everyone will know what my decision will be.”

After dealing with other business, the issue was raised again during public comment. Marti Steed, wife of Ron Steed, addressed the board. She thanked members for “openly voicing their opinions,” noting it could be difficult to do so.

She then said that “something was lost in the apology,” Greenough emailed to her husband, which with the same stroke was sent to this newspaper.

Steed continued, saying it was no joke.

“If you have dirty windows, ‘Wash me’ is a joke … ‘F Ron’ is a very nasty, low-class comment to make in public,” she said, adding Steed Real Estate at Railroad Plaza is also a bus stop in public view. “It’s unconscionable. And to me, that’s no apology.”

And, she said to Bates, it was wrong not to wipe the message off the window. Such inaction, she said, made her culpable.

 “I will once again ask for you to step down and Peter to be removed,” said Steed. 

Resident De Lora Brooks spoke next. 

“This was very unfortunate,” she said to Bates. “You represent this institution 24/7. Our code of ethics and standards have to be recognized because we’re setting an example. There are children that watch what we do, and we’re setting an example.

“We have to have consistency for how we carry ourselves as a government agency,” added Brooks. 

Resident Kristin McClune also spoke, addressing Steed.

“I’m sorry for this having happened in our community,” she said, “because listening to that, I’m embarrassed that you had to listen to that not-apology.”

Though no one in the small audience spoke in support of Bates and Greenough, a couple of local residents wrote letters to the editor supporting them in this newspaper’s Oct. 5 edition.

“I’m glad to see Greenough has publicly apologized and I hope Steed will accept and we can all move on,” wrote Bill Kish.

And Kristie Schmidt, M.D., wrote, “Mr. Greenough’s public apology should be more than adequate to put this phony controversy to rest.”

That might not be done so quickly, as the board plans to revisit the matter on Oct. 16.