Mayor Asks Council To Vote Getzendanner Out

To the Editor:

Recently, I was watching the events of Egypt unfold on TV with my son and both of us were surprised when we saw Eliot Spitzer was the host of the TV show.  We almost simultaneously commented on how fast he has been able to rebound from his previous downfall. 

This started me thinking how we as a society have relaxed our standards to the point where it’s hard to explain to a 16 year old that actions have consequences.  It seems that the standard procedure is to commit an embarrassing act; say you are sorry; go into hiding; claim you have been in rehab and you are on your way…“no mess – no fuss.”  I, like the next guy, find stories of people who have been able to rebound from adversity encouraging.  However, we are at the point where the lack of accountability for one’s actions is almost comical.  We tend to say he or she “just” did this or that.

I have often said our town is a microcosm of any city or, in fact, our country.  Last week council received a report from retired superior court Judge Edward Beglin  stating “I have no doubt that Mr. Getzendanner was trying to learn if Summit could possibly take advantage of the reimbursement of legal fees and costs language in the “MEL” (Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund) agreement to its fiscal advantage and, therefore, to the disadvantage of the ‘MEL.”  Simply said this is the equivalent of asking our town attorney to commit fraud. 

Judge Beglin also states “I can only conclude that Mr. Getzendanner did suggest to Mr. Osmun that the dates on some of his legal bills be altered in an effort to achieve greater reimbursement from the “MEL.”  This report was asked for by Common Council and as is well-known was given to Common Council and discussed in public at our February 1st council meeting.  Council’s reaction to the report was stunning.  Instead of taking a strong stand and saying that actions do have consequences and the fact that by virtue of being on the dais you should be held to a higher standard.  The council president made the decision that the only thing needed was for the entire governing body to go through an ethics training course.  I, for one, find this absurd.  First, I would hope that before anybody made a decision to vote for me they would feel that such a course was not warranted.  Secondly, by the council president asking all members of council to participate in such a course he is tarring the entire council based on the actions of one. 

Maybe I should not be so surprised.  As I stated earlier we are truly a microcosm of the larger world and, as such, it was time to go through the rehab portion for bad choices being made and move on from there.  After all it’s “just” an attempt to commit fraud.

What message are we sending to the community and to our children?  As mayor, I am constantly being asked if our school administrators or our law enforcement officials can show some leniency when one of our children makes a bad decision “don’t throw my kid off the team, etc.”  As parents, educators and law
enforcement officials we all agree that it is our duty to teach our children that actions have consequences.  Isn’t it time that Common Council send this same message?  I am not shy to say that I have asked the council president to take a vote and ask Councilman Getzendanner to step down from council.  Not doing so cheapens the service of all those who are serving and those who served before him.

Jordan Glatt
Mayor