THE GRINCH WHO STOLE COPAKE (THE HEART OF COPAKE THAT IS)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

THE GRINCH WHO STOLE COPAKE (THE HEART OF COPAKE THAT IS)

Earlier this yea, the Copake Town Board enacted Local law 1 of 2009 by a bipartisan vote. The law created a full time court clerk position to work for both Town Justices, and provided for a part time clerk to cover when the full timer was absent.

The full time position was filled by Margaret Hosier, a Copake resident. Margaret is fully qualified and there have been no complaints about her work. She is the only full time, non elected female on the Town payroll and coincidentally, the only non elected Democrat on the Town payroll. This appointment was intended to, and should have, reduced the hours of the then part time clerk. Her hours were never reduced and only one of the judges used Margaret’s time. She compensated by doing the court’s administrative work.

Now, in what appears to be a purely political move, the Republican controlled Town Board plans to reverse itself and eliminate the full time position. There has never been a complaint about her work and she has in fact been commended by members of the police for her attention to their matters.

The Grinch, in the person of Reggie Crowley, Town Supervisor, is blatantly disregarding the fact that he will add another person to the unemployed, and take away a person’s health insurance at a time when it is almost impossible to replace both.

Reggie, what is the real purpose? To fire the only full time female employee who is also a Democrat?

You will now need three part timers to do the job since Judge Spencer's clerk only is available for 8 months of the year. You will need another part timer to replace her. Judge Herman will also need a part timer if your plan goes through. What a nightmare for them, coordinating the work of three part timers, training them, covering when they are unavailable. Who will do the administrative work of the Court now performed by Margaret?

Think this through and do the right thing. Keep the full time position and save the Town the cost of defending a potential sex discrimination law suit. Don’t continue to be the Copake Grinch and continue to make our population unhappy with decisions such as this and the legalization of junk yards at the entrance to town.

Morris Ordover
Copake NY