Rather than face a call for his
resignation, Chairman of the Rensselaer County Legislator Martin Reid adjourned Tuesday's monthly meeting before the “Legislator’s Privilege” piece of the agenda - which
gives the elected officials the opportunity to speak on whatever is on their
minds.
“Mr. Reid’s actions tonight reinforce why we
are calling for his resignation immediately,” said Legislator Len Welcome,
D-Troy, one of six Democrats on the 19-member body in a press release. “We had planned to ask Mr.
Reid to do the right thing and step down as chairman.”
Reid came under fire after a state
Department of Labor administrative law judge found he had “willfully and
intentionally misrepresented the facts” in order to collect some $15,300 in
unemployment benefits. Reid began collecting after he was let go from a nearly
$80,000 job at the state School Boards Association. He failed, however, to tell
the DOL he was working as chairman of the Legislature at an annual salary of
$30,000.
Reid did reach a settlement with
the DOL that includes paying a $2,300 civil fine and repaying the $15,300 out
of any future unemployment benefits he receives, according to the Times Union.
The Department of Labor has
referred the case to District Attorney Joel Abelove to investigate and possibly
prosecute. Abelove has not yet said if he intends to follow through.
“Since that time, numerous
constituents have contacted me to express outrage at these findings, which
involve the wrongful taking of taxpayer funds and a violation of the public
trust,” said Legislator Cindy Doran, D-Troy, in a statement she was prepared to
read before Reid cut the meeting short. “I am calling for Chairman Reid to
resign his chairmanship post immediately so that the Legislature may move
forward under new, unblemished leadership.”
“I believe Chairman Reid’s
continuing leadership of the Rensselaer County Legislature is inappropriate and
that it will distract from the important work we have been elected to do,” said
Legislator Gary Pavlic, D-Troy.
“What galls me is the fact that he has not
repaid the $15,335 which he obtained by dishonesty and deceit,” said Legislator
Mark Fleming, D-Troy.
The "Legislator's Privilege" is on the Feb. 10 agenda and is slated or the last item of business before the meeting is adjourned.
Reid, and the majority’s spokesman
Rich Crist, could not be reached for comment.
(As an aside, this is the first time
the Democratic minority has done or said anything of significance in more than
a decade.)
