Gray Manager takes heat
Citizens' issues varied
By Elizabeth Prata

Gray-Tuesday night's council meeting was short on official voting business but long on conversation about the performance of the Manager and the Code Enforcement Officer. (CEO)

During Council Correspondence, Council Chair Pam Wilkinson read a letter to the Council from Elizabeth Hayden, who is a Gray resident and owns the Ladyslipper Flower Shop in Gray. She reported that she had approached the CEO with a request to build an adjacent apartment to her business, located on Rt. 100 south of Gray Plaza. She was told that it was an allowable undertaking. Ms. Hayden's letter went on to say that she went forward with engaging an architect and initiating a loan process. Yet two months later the CEO told her that it was not an allowable use with no further information forthcoming.

Ms. Hayden's letter stated that she did not appreciate the about face. She had invested emotions, time and money to the project and that she did not like that the CEO made an error nor the way it was handled.

Ms. Wilkinson said that she read Ms. Hayden's letter because her statements echo other comments she has heard in the community about the CEO's conduct and the Enforcement process.

Town Manager Mitchell A. Berkowitz said that this was he first he has heard of an issue of this nature and would have appreciated having the opportunity to intercede earlier. He said he will look into it.

Councilor Matthew Sturgis said that it is of the utmost importance that Administrators' decisions be correct and decisive. "It is not our job to say no, and that's it. Our job is to guide them through the ordinances and zoning and show them options, and also inform them as to any appeal processes." Mr. Sturgis reminded the Council that during a recent zoning workshop resident Mrs. Bibber pointed out that an entire portion of the town's description was omitted from the zoning preambles. "What if that wasn't caught until much later? This issue of correctness goes to the Planning, Assessing, and Code Enforcement Departments."

In other Council Correspondence, Ms. Wilkinson read a letter from James Monroe of Gray. Mr. Monroe stated in his letter that he had made a freedom of information request of the Manager and had seen his written request personally delivered. Mr. Monroe awaited a response for several days and when one was not forthcoming, he called to inquire. Mr. Monroe stated that the Manager had said that he was working on many other, more important issues and that Mr. Monroe would receive a response in a week or so.

Mr. Monroe said that he was not appreciative of his issue being described as unimportant, especially since it involved voting, and that there is no more important issue than voting. He asked that his dissatisfaction of his interaction with Mr. Berkowitz be placed in his permanent record.

Ms. Wilkinson said that she would take that under advisement.

Mr. Berkowitz interjected and said that this issue requires a response, and "Unless and until it is responded to I will not allow anything to be placed in my permanent record." Ms. Wilkinson said she would respond.

Under Citizen Discussion, Gray resident Andy Upham complimented the Manager and Council for the easy to read format of the newly delivered municipal budget. He said that he had read the budget and had some questions.

Mr. Upham asked Mr. Berkowitz how he had generated the figures related to "Energy" on page 5 of the budget. Mr. Berkowitz said that he added every item related to energy, fuel, or mileage. Mr. Upham said that he did the same and that his figure was $100,000 different from Mr. Berkowitz's. Both the Chair and the Manager invited Mr. Upham to sit with the Manager to learn how each had arrived at the figures.

Mr. Upham said he would be glad to do that, "But calculators don't lie, and what if I am right? This budget has a $100,000 mistake in it with the very first number I come to. You should check your work."

Ms. Wilkinson said that "Before we throw it out there that it is wrong, let's take a look."

Mr. Upham said that for any discussion of the budget to have merit, there should be credibility and validity to the numbers.

That drew a response from Mr. Berkowitz, who said, "This is the second year you have stood there and attempted to besmirch my ability to create a municipal budget."

Vice-Chair Lynn Olson defended the Manager, saying that Mr. Upham should not get confused about the difference between a work session and a regular session. She also explained that it was still early in the process and that before Mr. Upham throws rocks he should remember that this is not the only thing that Mr. Berkowitz does.

Mr. Sturgis said that "We need to pay attention and make sure that things are right before they go out."

The Council adjourned to go into an already scheduled executive session, part two of a session to evaluate the Manager's performance.