Giunta: Last Minute Appointees Are 'Shameful and Disgusting'

Dear Fellow Residents,

I wanted to share with you some very disturbing news that just arrived my way:

Departing Mayor DiLeo (and his shadow backers) decided to circumvent your wishes at the poll and appoint Jim Avena for trustee to the position DiLeo is vacating. Instead of giving me, as your newly-elect mayor, the courtesy and option to appoint the right person for the post – a person who would work closely with us to finally make things happen in the village – DiLeo is forcing his hand on us, in a very deceptive way. This is extremely disturbing and simply unheard of. This clearly shows how desperate his backers are to hold on to their control over the Village!

Moreover and worse, in the last minute prior to his departure on Monday, July 2, 2012, DiLeo has also appointed three new officials to the zoning board. These individuals  are the same old faces we all wanted to replace: previous Mayor Michael Meehan (who deserted ship and quit the mayorship prior to the completion of his term), previous Trustee Jim Fahey, and previous Trustee Patrick Gibson (who also did not complete his term and voted for the cell tower when he was on the BZA). Wonder why they were appointed now to the zoning board? Because the old club's shadow backers need to bring their variances to the BZA and get them approved – even if they conflict with the village needs and laws. Their moves reflect how desperate they are to control real estate in this little village. How shameful and deceptive to do this to you the voters and the residents in the midnight hour... DiLeo did not even have the courage to do it in front of the residents at his last board of trustees meeting [Thursday] night. He waited until [Friday] to make it happen – by sending it to our attorney...shameful and disgusting!

We will not allow this to happen! We fought very hard to get back what is ours: our own village!  We will not let these shadow backers and their puppets grab the village back from us immediately after the election and in spite of your voices at the poll! 

is the newly elected mayor of the village of Manorhaven. The opinions expressed here are solely that of the author. Asked for comment on Monday about the appointments, former village attorney Gerard Terry said "it would not be appropriate" to comment as he is no longer village attorney.