Integrity and Ethics
By Councilwoman Sue Smith
March 21, 2004

Dear editor:

I am writing in response to Jon Dunleavy's guest column in the Sunday, March 7 edition of Suburban Trends. I find his attempts to justify his decision to rescind his recusal, enabling him to make the decisive vote on the Horse Farm ordinance, very disturbing. Having been recused since Sep. 17, 2002, it's highly suspicious that only one day after Mr. Peter Gonzales and other homeowners in his lake community filed a protest petition requiring an additional vote in favor of the project, Dunleavy seeks a loophole to rescind his recusal.

He claims that on the night of Feb. 23, Mr. Gonzales and I opened the door for him to "unrecuse" himself. I must correct Dunleavy's misrepresentation of the facts. First, Mr. Dunleavy misstates his conversation with Peter Gonzales. While Dunleavy was trying to sell Mr. Gonzales the horse farm idea, Mr. Gonzales said to him, "Jonathan, if you don't develop the horse farm then there won't be any dam problem." I followed with "It's not Jon's decision; we have to wait for the council's vote." Dunleavy replied, "not if I unrecuse myself."

I then spoke with the Borough Attorney about what Dunleavy had just said and asked if he were allowed to unrecuse himself. The Borough attorney immediately said "yes!" No extensive research was done by the attorney in response to my question, as Dunleavy suggests. His immediate reply to my question makes it obvious that this issue was discussed between Dunleavy and the attorney long before Dunleavy's decision to reinstate his voting status.

If Dunleavy is so ashamed of his choice that he feels the need for elaborate explanations, then perhaps he should reconsider his action. We wonder why people don't trust politicians? Actions like Dunleavy's on this important issue are exactly the type that destroy our trust!

On September 17, 2002 when the Borough Attorney originally explained for the governing body the reasons for council members Hack Miller and Jon Dunleavy to recuse themselves, the Borough Attorney said it is preferable to play it safe in conflicts of interest and it's ALWAYS better to take the high road by recusing yourself. Can someone please tell Mr. Dunleavy that he just took the exit ramp off that road?

In closing, I would like to commend Councilman Hack Miller for staying on the "high road" and maintaining his integrity and ethics!