Tannersville Deputy Mayor George Kelly Resigns

By Matthew Avitabile

TANNERSVILLE — Tannersville Deputy Mayor George Kelly announced Friday that he was resigning from the village board. The resignation came after significant disagreements over management of a village employee and the hanging of banners for July 4th.

Kelly that he is disappointed in the circumstances. He nominated Mayor Lee McGunnigle for mayor in the pages of the newspaper in the last election cycle.

“He and I have done more for this village than in his first twenty years.” Kelly said that McGunnigle has recognized his efforts in the past.

The outgoing deputy mayor cited issues with village employees. He said that there have been “more than one occasion” where an employee has said no when requested by DPW Superintendent Kerry Knoetgen. Kelly said that he was volunteering placing 30-foot banners for July 4th recently, which was the spark of the resignation.

“I will never sell my soul or my beliefs when I’m dismissed by a mayor,” he said.

I have to live with myself, said Kelly. “I’m working for the wrong man,” he said. He does not want “taxpayer money going down the drain.” He said that “nobody steals from my pocket, my neighbor’s pocket.”

The issue stemmed from “numerous times,” asked by Knoetgen to assist with the banners across the community. Kelly said that the employee has been “written up” on multiple occasions. When requesting help putting up the banner, the employee allegedly said “no.”

“You know what the consequences are,” Kelly said he asked of the employee. The employee said no again. Kelly said that he spoke to Trustee Cody Leach, and that Knoetgen sent the employee home pending further action. He said that the DPW superintendent requested suspension.

“There’s no accountability here,” said Kelly. He said that the mayor stated that there was no mechanism to fire the employee. He believes that such a refusal to work is a “theft of services.”

“If the mayor can’t stand for accountability, the mayor should resign,” said Kelly. “To me, it’s immoral.”

When Kelly requested that McGunnigle request the employees work on the projects, the mayor told him no. He hopes that the underlying issue will be solved.

He said that he does not want the mayor to “turn a blind eye” to any “well-paid employee.” Kelly said that this has been an occasion over several times. 

“I asked what we can do about something like this?” Kelly said he asked the mayor. “Nothing,” came the request.

“I will no longer sit back,” said Kelly. “Enough was enough today,” he said Friday. “I was dismissed as a peon. No one will dismiss George Kelly as a peon. No one will dismiss Kerry Knoetgen as a peon.”

“Is my political career over?” Kelly asked. “It’s only beginning.” He said that the “Mountain is abuzz” since he announced his resignation.

He said that he received requests from multiple individuals not to resign, including Town Supervisor Sean Mahoney.

Kelly said that he was tired of hearing complaints about “what’s happening in this village.” He said that he works 40-50 hours a week on local projects.

“I was forced to resign,” said.

Kelly said that this is a long-standing concern. He said “we work for the public.”

“You don’t negate a trustee,” said Kelly. Each member of the board has a role to play, he said.

Kelly said that his resignation will result in a special election next week.

The outgoing deputy mayor said “you can’t pretend things aren’t happening.” He cited his efforts but “I don’t regret leaving.”

Kelly said that he will not badmouth Mayor McGunnigle but that he believes the mayor is “feckless.”

“Let’s see what happens.”

“I’m not done with politics. I’m just beginning,” said Kelly.

“Nobody’s worked as hard as me,” Kelly said.

Mayor McGunnigle said that he was on vacation in Colorado with his grandchildren Friday. He said that he “can’t handle disciplinary actions while on vacation.” He said that he did not feel comfortable handling “discipline” or “a hearing from Colorado.”

The mayor said that Kelly has “threatened to resign multiple times in the past.”

“I still want him on the board,” he said. Kelly “brings a lot of good things to the village.”

McGunnigle said that he took a walk in the mountains “to clear my head.”

The mayor said that the current issues are “hanging banners and hanging flags” and that there hadn’t been a “critical” issue before leaving on his trip. The mayor said that the underlying issue appeared to come from perceived insubordination from a village employee.

McGunnigle said that the underlying argument appeared to be about reinforcing a banner.

“Seems a bit much to me.”

The mayor said that he made a number of phone calls and texted Kelly that he would request an executive session when he returns. 

“It’s fair to hold a formal hearing with an employee,” said the mayor. “This is an issue that needs to be handled in person. Not thousands of miles away.”

Hunter Town Board member Ray Legg said that he was surprised by the resignation. “He’s been working really hard for his constituents,” Legg said. “I tried talking him out of it. I think he’s doing a great job.”

“It’s unfortunate he decided to resign,” Legg said. “I think he was doing good work.”