Here & There Column 6-5-07

Now County Employees Get "Beheaded" ?

The whole scenario is just way off base and is one of the most distasteful situations to have ever taken place in Sullivan County Government history.
Two nice respectful people have had to go through living hell over this entire situation and county politicians should be ashamed of themselves. For them to have to go and bury their heads in sand is not the answer for some of the dirtiest politics.ever to surface in Sullivan County.
And if our new County Clerk truthfully said what was printed in an area newspaper, "I was asked by the Democratic Party To Behead you." then he too is totally wrong and there is now a dark cloud over his appointment and future as County Clerk.
When we first saw it in print we shook our head and read is over several more times.
Would our newly appointed County Clerk Neil Gilberg actually say to his deputy clerk Nora Manzolillo, "I was asked by the Democratic Party to behead you."
Then as a seasoned veteran reporter and journalist the statement printed has quotation marks both in the beginning and closing of this statement which means Gilberg actually said this or he was totally misquoted.
We will say this....we hope he was totally misquoted but if the quote is true its not a good way to start the new job as County Clerk.
We can only wish that this entire mishandled situation should have never taken place.
The sky fell in last year when Manzolillo was fired and subsequently sued then County Clerk George Cooke for allegedly improper remarks in a harassment and wrongful termination lawsuit.
After 15-years in the elected post, Cooke resigned as part of a settlement and Manzolillo returned to work for the county in February.
Believe me I have always had the greatest respect for the professionalism and work ethics of George Cooke and for his willingness to help whenever asked. I have known his highly respected family for many years and felt very badly when it was announced he would have to resign as a result of the final court arrangements. I still feel there should have been some form of court ordered agreement that would have allowed George to remain in office.
In addition to the respect I had for George I have also respected Nora for the knowledge and professionalism she brought to the county clerks office. She and her family are decent people and with politics as it is there must have been some thought going through her mind as to if she would actually be reappointed by new County Clerk Neil Gilberg.
The ill feelings of Cooke supporters and most likely those in power within the Sullivan County Democrat Party could and eventually were somewhat satisfied when Gilberg stated "I did have to make a change" and fired Manzolillo.
Let's hope that politicians will learn from this statement that they will be held accountable for irresponsible "behead" remarks (if they are true) and someday we will learn the truth behind this entire situation.