When elected officials appear to be acting inappropriately or unethically it is a citizens responsibility to try to seek a remedy. At the September 9, 2014 town board meeting Councilman/Deputy Supervisor Thomas McCarthy voted on a salary increase for the position of deputy supervisor. The very position he holds. The resolution, item 4.O, authorized an increase and set the salary for deputy supervisor at $35,000 per annum. The resolution was approved in a three-two vote with Councilmen Creighton and Wehrheim voting NO and Councilwoman Nowick, Supervisor Vecchio and Councilman/Deputy Supervisor McCarthy voting YES.
As it was a week ago it remains my opinion that Mr. McCarthy, as the sole beneficiary of the resolution, had an ethical and professional responsibility to abstain from voting. Over the past week I have sought professional opinions from a broad spectrum of knowledgeable people. It is my informed opinion that Mr. McCarthy violated Smithtown’s ethics code. For this reason I have submitted a letter to the Town’s ethics board requesting that they investigate this matter.
Pat