LEXINGTON — True to their word, Republicans in Lexington unflinchingly relinquished their political majority, last week, backing Lynn Byrne, a Democrat, for a vacant seat on the town council.
The spot was left open after the November election when Byrne, the incumbent, and GOP challenger William “Bill” Pushman wound up in a tie, seeking to occupy the second of two available council seats.
Pushman was subsequently named to fill a slot left empty by the unrelated resignation of Glenn Howard, a Republican, who stepped down in mid-December saying he had physically moved from town.
It had been suggested, at that time, that no one be picked to replace Howard until the town's annual re-organization meeting, in early January, when Byrne should be named to replace herself and Pushman be named to replace Howard.
Democrats embraced the plan but Republican councilman John Berger recommended Pushman be appointed earlier, on December 28, promising he would personally nominate Byrne at the re-organization meeting.
Democrats expressed mistrust of the GOP's intentions, noting there was nothing legally binding in Berger's promise, but ultimately backed Pushman who took the oath of office to begin the re-organization meeting, last Tuesday night.
The next order of business, after Pushman was sworn-in, was Berger doing precisely what he said he would do. He nominated Byrne, a motion that was seconded by Pushman, and Byrne gained unanimous approval.
Byrne's selection gives Democrats the same 3-2 majority on the council that Republicans have enjoyed for the past two years, during which time many votes on routine and/or controversial issues often followed strict Party lines.
Democrats now hold the cards with Byrne being joined by supervisor-elect Dixie Baldrey and councilwoman-elect Jo Ellen Schermerhorn, who was the leading vote-getter among council candidates on Election Day.
Four candidates ran for two open council seats with the top two vote getters winning the spots. Schermerhorn was in, no matter what else happened, but the deadlock between Byrne and Pushman meant Byrne's seat would legally become vacant on January 1, 2012.
Any eligible resident of Lexington could have been chosen by the council to fill Byrne's seat, but following Howard's resignation, with two seats again available, government leaders agreed the will of the people should be recognized.
In the rarest of circ*mstances, Byrne and Pushman each received 165 votes in November, including the machine tally and fifteen absentee ballots. One potentially-decisive absentee ballot was left blank, officials said.
A special election will take place in November, 2012, when Byrne and Pushman will need to re-run, along with anyone else who may throw their hat into the ring, hoping to secure two seats with different terms of office.
Byrne is currently serving the first year of a 4-year term. The winner of the special election will fulfill the final three years of that term.
Pushman is currently serving the third year of Howard's unexpired 4-year term. The winner of the special election will fufill the final year of that term, then need to re-run for a fresh 4-year term in November, 2013, officials said.
In other matters related to the re-organization, the appointments and designations required to keep local government running smoothly were made, including the naming of Byrne, by Baldrey, as deputy supervisor, replacing Berger.
Baldrey opted not to select an assistant to the supervisor, a position that was budgeted for $3,520, to be paid on an hourly basis. “I will be here, in the office, to do whatever needs to be done for the people of Lexington,” Baldrey said.
Other appointments and designations included town clerk Rose Williams (Registrar of Vital Statistics and Records Management Officer), Michele Brainard (bookkeeper), Karen Deeter (town historian), Jannel Mellott (deputy historian);
Adam Cross (code enforcement officer/zoning officer), Paul Dwon (Disaster Coordinator), George Dart and Roseann West (cemetery custodians), Bruce Feml (dog control officer), Dr. Jacqueline Maier (health officer), Arielle Berger (Youth Director);
Katherine Jordan (inventory clerk), Christine Dwon (deputy town clerk), Alida Bloodgood (deputy town clerk), councilmen Berger and Pushman (Highway Committee and Building Maintenance Committee), Supervisor Baldrey and councilwoman Byrne (Ambulance Commitee);
Councilwoman Schermerhorn (Emergency Communications Committee, with other members to be named), councilman Berger and councilwoman Schermerhorn (Union Negotiation Committee) and Windham Journal and The Daily Mail (official newspapers).
Council members also chose, by a 4-1 vote, to issue a $1,000 stipend to highway superintendent Frank Hermance and town clerk Rose Williams, recognizing work done above-and-beyond the call of duty in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene.
Town leaders, while preparing the 2012 budget, had approved a $1,000 salary increase for the two positions, officials said. Baldrey, however, recommended the money be given on a onetime basis while still rewarding Hermance and Williams.
Councilman Berger dissented, saying, “it sets a dangerous precedent to have a stipend for a salaried position. Berger also said, “I don't feel [the bonuses] are warranted. They are elected to do a certain job and whether they work two hours or thirty-five hours, they are paid a certain salary.”
Berger further said he wasn't present at the town council meeting, last fall, when the dollars were approved, casting the lone “no” vote. Council members also unanimously agreed to hold one monthly board meeting rather than two, which had been the rule the past two years.
Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Kenneth A. Becker Municipal Building. Citizens are encouraged to attend, officials said, with time traditionally set aside for the voicing of public concerns.
