Smalbany Blog Puts on the Pressure and We Get Results!

In an article appearing in the Daily Mail today, on Thursday, March 6, 2014, reporter Jim Planck reports that highly criticized New Baltimore Town Clerk, Janet Brooks, has submitted her letter of resignation to the New York Secretary of State. According to the report, “Brooks, who has been on the job for nine-and-a-half years and was just re-elected to another two-year term in November, submitted her letter of resignation Wednesday to New York State Secretary of State Cesar Perales.’

New Baltimore Town Clerk Janet Brooks
Resigns After Criticisms of Abuse of Public Office

Janet Brooks Resigns as New Baltimore Town Clerk
Town Hall Saves A Bundle in Pain-in-the-Ass Relief

Brooks was re-elected last November as incumbent to serve another term as New Baltimore town clerk but quickly became the subject of a controversy suggesting misuse of public office, corruption, and generally abuse of the public’s trust when it surfaced that she was collecting a full-time salary and putting in only part-time in the office. According to one reliable report, Brooks was at work only 8 days in the month of January 2014. In addition, Brooks actually had two deputies doing her work for her.

We reported extensively on Brook’s alleged misuse of her office and the fact that she balked when the newly elected New Baltimore Town Board entertained a resolution to establish fixed hours for the office of the town clerk. See our article at “If you want me to do my job, you’ll have to pay me more…”.

Canned Response: “careful consideration of (her) health issues” Hemorroids?

In the Planck article, Brooks is reported to have claimed “careful consideration of (her) health issues” was the reason for her resignation. That canned statement is second only to disgraced politicians wanting to spend more time with their families. We have a burning question: Wasn’t Ms Brooks aware of her “health issues” last November, when she ran for re-election, hoping to continue her scam on New York State and New Baltimore Taxpayers? Or did thes “health issues” crop up with the discovery of her abuse of public office, and she found herself on the hotseat with a bad case of hemorrioids having to answer some sticky questions. Yeah, that’s it: Brooks’ health issue is hemorrhoids, Right?

JUST RESIGN!!!

Regardless of the phony reasons for the resignation, Brooks gave notice that the resignation will take effect in two weeks, on Wednesday, March 19, 2014. This means that the office of town clerk for New Baltimore will accordingly be on the ballot for the next general election on Nov. 4.

New Baltimore Town Supervisor Dellisanti Talks Some Shite…

What irks us is that newly elected Town of New Baltimore supervisor, Nick Dellisanti, was less than candid when commenting on Brook’s and her service. The Planck reports Dellisanti to have said:

‘Brooks provided valued service to the community.’
“She was there nine-and-a-half years,” said Dellisanti. “She served the public well.”
***
“She did a very good job,” he said, “and she’ll be missed.”

That just might explain Mr Dellisanti’s lack of candidness.

C’mon, Dellisanti, stop buttering the cabbage and have some balls! Tell the media what you think! We would have expected a bit more of honesty from Mr Dellisanti, given that his team was instrumental in exposing Brooks’ misconduct in office and given the fact that this blog published a scathing article on Brooks’ misconduct and made its own inquiries with the legal department of the Office of the State Comptroller and the Examiners’ Office specifically citing the Brooks case. The Comptroller’s legal deparment has been “looking into” our inquiries. But to be very clear: according to our information, our investigations, our inquiries, Ms Brooks provided a valued service to herself and her pension over the “nine-and-a-half years.” Ms Brooks served herself well and “did a very good job” of that. And yes, Mr Dellisanti, we’re sure you’ll miss Ms Brooks…like an inflamed hemorroid!

After March 19, when Brooks formally and physically ceases to be New Baltimore Town Clerk, her personally hand-picked insider appointee who has been Brooks’ “first deputy clerk”, Marjorie Loux of Hannacroix, another insider player, will perform the clerk’s duties during that period, as NYS Town Law requires that a town’s first deputy clerk “shall possess the powers and perform the duties of the town clerk … during a vacancy in the office of town clerk.”The law also requires the “first deputy” to have the knowledge and skills to perform, and to have taken an oath of office. Has that ever been done? Can we really trust a Brooks appointee to do an honest job, considering Brooks’ history? That’s an interesting question only the incumbent town board of New Baltimore will be responsible for answering until a new clerk is elected in November.

Loux has previously served as deputy clerk under Brooks’ predecessor, Barbara Weeks, a star performer who died suddenly, leaving the positon vacant, and the town also has a second deputy clerk, Diane Jordan (wife of controversial highway superintendent “Do-Me-A-Favor” Denis Jordan), both factors which will undoubtedly complicate the coming transition, and certainly will not resolve any of the tensions. But the question does arise, does the town of New Baltimore need all these deputies? Hell NO! What we need is a clerk who does the job and maybe a deputy who can step in if necessary, but less than part time and optionally compensated for that time unless adjustments can be made by substituting another employee and allowing comp time. That’s a legal issue that needs to be examined by the board and the town attorney. But now’s the time to start considering candidates, possible deputies for appointment, whether the deputy will be compensated, and other associated issues. Now, not at the last minute.

Well, now that Ms Brooks has announced her resignation, she’ll have more time to grind away at the organ (Whose? Now, now!) at the troubled New Baltimore Reformed Church (check out our article on the NBRC at New Baltimore Reformed Church: Slow Agonizing Death), where her pal Susan Kerr is mounting (Oh! My!) her offensives on patriotism the flag) and the American male domination of…well, they’re dominating something, aren’t they? You’ll have to sit in on one of her sermons to find out what in hell they’re dominating. Damned if we know!

The investigation must continue beyond any resignation and the inquiry must include whether there was criminal activity involved. The fat lady hasn’t sung yet; it ain’t over, pals.

Things are looking good in New Baltimore these days. Another cockroach is out of town hall. Things are looking mighty bleak for New Baltimore Democratic Committee chair Diane Lewis, now that her party’s fixtures are being scrapped one-by-one and removed from New Baltimore town hall as the corruption is exposed. Lisa Benway and Christopher Norris are next. Stay tuned for our report on their corruption in office.

Feels Better Already!
The Editor

Stay Tuned: Our Next EXPOSED! report will talk about how Susan O’Rorke, Lisa Benway, and Chris Norris may have been involved in a conflict of interest scam involving NYMIR insurance brokers and campaign contributions to O’Rorke and the New Baltimore Democrapic Committee under Diane Lewis! Stay Tuned

For more information on Benway and Norris, see our articles: Double-Talk, Double-Standards, Double-Jeopardy: An Editorial & A New Baltimore Resident’s Letter to the Editor: Benway, Norris Obstructing the Board?

You Read it on the Smalbany Blog, Again!