To the Editor:

Michael Marcantonio resigns over a perceived conflict of interest raised while on the Guilderland Library Board yet town Supervisor Peter Barber remains in office?

Our town board was made aware that Supervisor Peter Barber chose an employee of his private law firm, Janet Thayer, to serve on the zoning board of appeals ... 

Why didn’t Peter Barber resign? Did the town board file an ethics inquiry? ...

And why did James Melita take over as ethics chair when he is an employee of the town? [“Conflict of interest on Guilderland’s ethics board?” The Altamont Enterprise, Jan. 23, 2017] Can town employees serve as the chair of the ethics board? ...

How did we get no opponents for town supervisor this November when we have had records of people having to leave their homes to express their concerns at board meetings? The chair of the Republican Party and the chair of the Independence Party — are they on committees or holding town employment? 

And, how did it come to pass that we need to eliminate the voting for a town receiver of taxes? Didn't you just report that there was a parcel of land that was handled at the county level for nonpayment of taxes?  Where was the town’s receiver of taxes? 

What is going on in this town? All I wanted was safe roads and safe water. Instead, we have water-contamination issues ...

I was in a six-car pile up on Western Avenue by Stuyvesant Plaza and, in a recent water test, lab results showed me that the water is harder than it needs to be. Has the town cut back on the amount of salt added to the water?

What is the issue that is going to matter to you? Road safety? Water safety? We have no voice at the ballot box when candidates run unopposed. Our silence is not consent …

How do we help others know it’s time to go if the ballot box is taken from us?

Christine Duffy

Guilderland

Editor’s Note: Supervisor Peter Barber responded through The Enterprise that Janet Thayer has never been employed by any law firm that he has been part of. She was of counsel to Barber’s firm a long time ago, he said, but was never employed. 

Douglas Breakell, head of the Republican Party in Guilderland, said that this year was “truncated and difficult” because of election reforms that brought the primary schedule forward by several months. But in years’ past, he has always been able to put together a strong ticket and run a strong race, and he expects to do so again going forward, he said, adding that he would also prefer to have choices.