By Patricia Bogumil
Editor
The Waterford Town Board took a pass Monday night on the idea of two attorneys talking privately about a public issue that affects thousands of local taxpayers.
At a special July 9 closed session of the Waterford Town Board, officials discussed a request from attorney John Macy to discuss the current 99-year/$1 per year lease at the Town Hall with Mike Dubis, the town’s attorney.
Macy serves as attorney for the Town of Waterford Sanitary District (WSD), which owns the Town Hall.
The lease in question has been in effect since 1988 when the Town sold the Town Hall to WSD.
The lease has been a subject of contention for several months. In March, WSD officials directed Macy to determine if WSD can legally break the lease with the Town in order to raise needed funds.
Monday night, town officials considered Macy’s request for about 15 minutes in closed session with Dubis.
After opening up the meeting to the public, the Town Board unanimously voted not to give Dubis the go-ahead to meet with Macy.
“I don’t think it would be wise for our attorney to meet with their attorney,” said Town Chairman Robert Langmesser.
And neither has the Town Board shown interest in meeting publicly with Macy, Langmesser said Tuesday afternoon.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” he explained. “We have a legal and binding contract that’s been in existence for about 25 years.”
On Tuesday, the WSD July 11 meeting agenda was amended to include a closed session with Macy to discuss the Town Hall lease.
“Why now has this become an issue? Langmesser asked on Tuesday.
“In my estimation, they need money to subsidize all the give-a-ways they have for their employees.”
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