Supervisor Andrea Hogan of Johnsburg has asked FoothillsBusinessDaily.com for a clarification or correction to the piece we reported yesterday that she called for Supervisor McDevitt’s removal from his county board seat.
FoothillsBusinessDaily.com told Supervisor Hogan that video evidence from the January organizational meeting could be interpreted in that fashion, but she does not say directly that she wanted him removed from office, as we had reported.
During the county board’s early-January organizational meeting, Supervisor Hogan asked Chairman Geraghty to enter an executive session.
Chairman Geraghty then consulted with Warren County Attorney Larry Elmen on the next steps.
Elmen asked Hogan if “the purpose would be to address matters that may be leading to the appointment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person.”
“Yes,” Hogan answered Elmen.
The motion, seconded by Claudia Braymer, was voted down following the roll call. Before the vote took place, there was no further discussion about the purpose behind Hogan’s motion.
There was no mention of expulsion.
FoothillsBusinessDaily.com asked Supervisor Hogan for further explanation behind her initial motion.
“I never asked for Mr. McDevitt’s resignation. I am content to leave it at the motion was for the purposes stated in open meetings law,” Hogan clarified.
It was not until after the motion was rejected that an open forum between board members proceeded. Supervisor Rachel Seeber of Queensbury was the first to address the entire board.
“Just last month we had a very detailed discussion in executive session about sharing confidential information, things that are records of the board. Many of you have made comments about the serious offenses of which it is to share records,” said Seeber.
“The procedures of this board should not be weaponized to harm or harass fellow members,” Seeber continued. Seeber then asked her colleague, Supervisor Hogan, to speak on the personal matter.
“You all know what it is,” said Hogan to those who voted against her motion.
Hogan said: “You just want to continue to allow harassment to continue on this board. We treat each other like crap, people. It needs to stop. Last week I was provided with evidence of another colleague on the board directly targeting me. It is making for a hostile work environment. I don’t want to come into work because I am being harassed by my colleagues. We as a body need to discuss how we are going to react to it. And how we are going to stop it, but the majority of you don’t want to discuss it…and it’s heartbreaking.”
Supervisor Braymer agreed.
“Not only do they not want to discuss it, they don’t want to stop it,” Braymer said. “To have fellow supervisors sending information from our county email to individuals who hurt us, attack us, and threaten us. It is not acceptable.”
Seeber then asked for a censure of Supervisor McDevitt for his conduct.
The Glens Falls Democratic Committee issued a press release last week saying they had censured McDevitt for releasing emails to June Maxam of the North Country Gazette in December.
The emails are public record and may be released to anyone who asks.
Chairman Kevin Geraghty concluded that the county administrator and county lawyer would “look into the matter,” and ended the meeting.