Nichols's resolution on Turbett is tabled

CANTON — A vote on J. Patrick Turbett's leadership style is in limbo, where some St. Lawrence County officials hope it will die.

Legislators at Monday's Board of Legislators meeting were set to urge the county administrator to bring forward unfiltered information — a poke that Chairman Turbett is shielding issues from coming to debate — until one of his supporters proposed watering it down with an 18-year-old explanation for how things are supposed to work.

Confused by the changes, they tabled the resolution.

"I'm hoping it will go away," said Peter W. FitzRandolph, D-Canton. "The fact that it's on the floor, I think, is embarrassing to this body."

The original measure was proposed by Thomas A. Nichols, R-Oswegatchie, who has been warring with Mr. Turbett. Mr. Nichols alleges that Mr. Turbett, D-Potsdam, is suppressing information from coming to the board. He stormed out of the May 19 meeting after learning Mr. Turbett told County Administrator Karen M. St. Hilaire to withhold a discussion on increasing the election commissioners' salaries until more information is available.

His complaints strike at the heart of a failed coup in March by Democrats and Republicans to toss Mr. Turbett from the chairmanship amid allegations he micromanages operations.

Mr. Nichols's resolution was co-sponsored Monday night by the board's four other Republicans and Democrat Sallie A. Brothers, Norfolk, but the chairman first recognized Mr. FitzRandolph, who asked them to withdraw.

After they remained silent, Mr. FitzRandolph proposed five additions that quote the 1990 law establishing the administrator position and the Legislature's rules of procedure guide. The additions say the chairman has the sole authority to set agendas and that the administrator cannot initiate policy discussions without approval from him or the board.

"People need to be reminded this is already laid out," Mr. FitzRandolph said.

The discussion cannot come back to the floor until the July 7 session.

Mr. Nichols said the resolution was intended to send a message, but it was written generically to say that the county would benefit from better communication. Opponents charged that he was intentionally vague to get support.

"If someone suggests another way, OK," Mr. Nichols said. "We tried to talk this over. There seems to be no end."

Mr. Turbett disregarded the move following the meeting.

"Much ado about nothing," he said. "There was nothing inappropriate to begin with."

Ms. St. Hilaire, who has been on the job since July, has said she strives to strike a balance between the board's right to debate and the chairman's privilege to set agendas. She asked Mr. Nichols on Monday afternoon to withdraw the resolution.

"I know it's been a difficult time over the past few months in terms of communicating," she said. "I find it embarrassing. We have a lot of serious issues to deal with."