Gouverneur trustee, administrator quit

GOUVERNEUR — A village trustee has quit, along with part-time Administrator Dorothy L. Vorce, as part of continued fallout from the election of Christopher A. Miller as mayor.

The resignations are a consequence of the village Board of Trustees’ lack of trust in Mr. Miller’s decisions as someone inexperienced in government who already is trying to make changes.

“Whether I like him or not, he’s a person who doesn’t know the history of the projects we’re involved in,” said Carl A. Petitto, who resigned last week. “Being a part-time trustee turned into being a full-time trustee.”

Mr. Petitto was re-elected to the board in November, but he said his work as owner of Greg’s Restaurant does not leave him time to take on the additional duties at the village brought on by Mr. Miller’s election.

“Before, we had a mayor who was retired who had time,” Mr. Petitto said, referring to Mrs. Vorce, who was defeated by Mr. Miller. “Now things are very disheveled. My mind has to be on my work.”

Mr. Petitto said Mr. Miller has received help from himself, Mrs. Vorce, Trustee Roger A. LaPierre and others but tells people in the community that no one will give him a chance.

Mrs. Vorce quit Friday, but declined to say why.

Mr. Miller said Mrs. Vorce resigned after a disagreement with an office staff member whom he had asked to do a job for him.

Mr. LaPierre said the board used to be a cohesive group before Mr. Miller’s election and the revelation that he had felony convictions in North Carolina for drug possession and forgery and misdemeanor convictions in New York for petit larceny and criminal trespass.

“Before, everything we did was in unison. Throw that out the window,” Mr. LaPierre said. “I’m very concerned about the direction the village board is taking.”

Mrs. Vorce was appointed part-time administrator before Mr. Miller took office. Her appointment was questioned by a Conference of Mayors advisory opinion, in that she was not first named by the mayor, followed by board approval.

However, Mr. Miller said he was willing to let bygones be bygones.

“I made it very clear I wanted to work with Dorothy,” he said. “I don’t have a problem with her.”

Mr. Miller had earlier discussed the administrator’s position with Legislator Donald A. Peck, R-Gouverneur.

“He has talked to me and asked if I was interested in it,” Mr. Peck said. “I told him I would not do it until I had talked to the whole board and that it would depend on what Dorothy did. I don’t want to see him fail. He’s elected mayor.”

Mr. Peck said the job, which he would agree to keep only until June, would not conflict with his duties as a county legislator because he would not have voting rights on the Gouverneur board.

Mr. Peck said he thought the younger members of the board need help understanding their role.

“I don’t think they understand the duties of the trustees and the mayor,” he said.

Mr. Miller said he hoped to reach Mr. LaPierre, who is in Florida, about scheduling a special meeting to make appointments.

“We can’t stay idle on things,” Mr. Miller said.