Backroom politics in Cape Vincent~ Opinion

Watertown Daily Times | Backroom politics in Cape Vincent
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010


The Cape Vincent village board placed an ad in the paper for resumes to replace Robert Doud, who has resigned. I was told Joe Gould was their choice before the ad went in based on his experience.

Why the ruse? Was it because they were questioned at a village board meeting? I understand it took less then five minutes in executive session to make the decision. Was it already decided? Was the fix in? Imagine that.

The other people who turned in resumes didn't even get the courtesy of an interview, not even a phone call. And yet, the board has the audacity to say, quote, "No one wants to be involved."

Michele Carlton, a Democratic candidate, received 183 votes from the people last election. Joe Gould gets the job with the majority of four votes. Imagine that.


I would like to list a few decisions made by this board with Joe Gould on it:

1) Joe Gould was on the board when they spent $37,000 for a study on a visitor center. They changed their minds, and now the village is being sued.

2) Joe was there when they voted to put the new water tower in the town, but the village has to pay $50,000 a year for 30 years.

3) He was on the board when we got our new U.S. Customs building without a roof.

4) Wasn't it Joe Gould who adamantly refused to run for office last November, but he was the only one qualified in the village for the Zoning Board of Appeals?

5) One has to ask, is Joe Gould a Republican in name only? He is on the town Republican Committee. This is the same committee being looked into by county GOP Chairman Donald Coon for flatly refusing to endorse or help our Republican candidates last election.

6) The board says they need his experience on issues facing the village. Rumor has it that the new sewer plant is being designed to handle sewage from other places to make a few bucks. Picture this in your minds. A beautiful little village acting like a cesspool for the county, surrounded by windmills or giant fans. This doesn't sound like a good way to build a tax base.

Folks, if this isn't a perfect example of small-town, good-ole-boy, backroom politics, I don't know what is.

Not to worry. They have one answer they always give. "If you don't like it, move." This is real professional. Don't you think?

Harry Landers

Cape Vincent