Dear Editor,
In response to the letter from candidate Lisa Curatolo, let’s talk about the facts. Positive change party candidates were elected to a majority of the board last March.
The Owego Police Department (OPD) has only been “up for discussion” this year because the members of the “positively getting rid of the OPD” party keep voting to get rid of it.
Right after the flood of 2011, Ann Lockwood voted on Dec. 12, 2012, and on Feb. 12, 2013 to disband the OPD. Then on July 21, 2014, “positive” party board members voted not to fill three open positions in the department.
When over 30 people showed up at the meeting on July 28, 2014 to demand that the board hire officers, they were ignored and told that we (the public) could do nothing to change their minds.
On Aug. 4, 2014, the remaining Rebuild party trustees tried to hire two police officers and were voted down. On July 31, 2014 Sheriff Howard was present at a board discussion on police department issues; there are no notes on that discussion.
At the very next meeting, on Aug. 14, 2014, Chief Vinti was asked to give a presentation to the board on the structure of her department and why she needed to fill those open positions. On Oct. 6, 2014, the Rebuild party tried again to hire police officers but was voted down. It was not until Nov. 3, 2014 that the “positively getting rid of the OPD” party finally agreed to temporarily hire three retired officers. I do not consider leaving the village residents without police coverage for four months a positive solution. I consider that irresponsible and dangerous.
At the Village board meeting on Monday I was hoping to see them approve the hiring of three permanent full time officers. Trustees Lockwood and Hartman agreed to recommend hiring police officers on Friday but changed their minds on Monday. I was disappointed as they delayed again, postponing the vote until a special meeting on Friday, March 6 at 5 p.m.
Why is there such resistance by Lisa Curatolo and her party to support all the departments of the Village? I guess it’s easier to be “positive” and ignore your constituents than actually address the problems that need to be solved in the Village.
Sincerely,
Phoebe Morris
Village of Owego trustee candidate
