Letters to the Editor
Journal Inquirer
October 20, 2008

In Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy’s attack on former Mayor Ellen Marmer, he states that he did not manipulate and revise Town Council minutes. He admonishes her and suggests that the facts be checked.

Well, guess what? I did check the facts. I visited the town clerk’s office to see the minutes of the March and April Town Council meetings. These minutes contain numerous revisions made not only by McCoy but also by Diane Wheelock. These are not just grammar and typo corrections but the removal of paragraphs, rephrasing of sentences, and adding additional information that was not part of the record.

If this isn’t manipulation, then I don’t know what is.

It wasn’t until Marie Herbst publicly questioned the accuracy of the “revised” minutes that this practice came to light.

These are the minutes of the Town Council. Neither McCoy nor “de-facto mayor” Wheelock have the right to adjust these minutes. Only the Town Council can do this.

In a May directive that was sent by the mayor’s office, this process was changed so that the minutes go out to the council members unaltered.

Those are the facts. Shame on who now?

Tom DiDio
Vernon

The writer is the Democratic town chairman.