Weintraub Statement

Toward the end of the East Hampton Town Council meeting on Tuesday night, Council Chair Sue Weintraub chose to address allegations made about her by former Acting Interim Town Manager Anne McKinney.

The allegations were made by McKinney during the Nov. 22 town council and in a released to Patch.

"I've deliberated long and hard about this," Weintraub said. "When somebody accuses you of something then you need to respond. While part of me just didn't want to get involved, I've had too many members of the community come up to me and say they read some statements that Ms. McKinney had made and they were curious, what was that about, because we don't think you would have done that. So, I just wanted to respond factually and just read this into the record."

Weintraub's response:

Response to Ann McKinney’s Letter and Statements: Setting the Record Straight

1. Ms. McKinney said that I had called her a few days after she spoke with Chief Reimondo on November 1 and that I wanted to know what she was recommending for disciplinary action.

This is not true.

I never asked what disciplinary action she was recommending. She stated during a conversation that our labor attorney and Police Chief did not agree on the disciplinary actions to be taken. It was my understanding that she was not privy to this information so I asked her if she knew what it was. She said she did not. I then asked her “then how do you know that they are not in agreement?” She did not comment.

2. She said that I mentioned election results and that she would be gone very soon.

This is not true.

Her job was temporary and contractual. When Mr. Weichsel returned, she would leave regardless of the election results.

3. Numerous inquiries into the PD struck a nerve -- why would Mr. Dostaler and I not want her to proceed for one more week?

Even before Ms. McKinney was sworn in or signed a contract, she had already attended an executive session to discuss the PD. Prior to the end of October, she had approximately seventeen conversations with the town’s different attorneys concerning Police matters. The Friday before the snow storm, instead of preparing the town by setting up a meeting with the Police Chief, Public Works Director and other department heads, she stated that she was just following up on what ever was brought to her office. She admitted that she didn’t contact the Police Chief; our Emergency Operations Procedure requires that the Town Manager call necessary department heads together for a briefing on the situation. In order to open an emergency (over night) shelter, the Police Chief has to be involved.

Mr. Weichsel has 44 years of successfully managing a municipality, a PD and labor issues. Ms. McKinney has none. Mr. Weichsel’s expertise was needed.

4. She received a call from the Town Labor Attorney asking if she had given me permission to call him to discuss the investigation.

This is not true.

I did not need permission; I did not ask for it; and I never said that she gave me permission. As per the procedure, we must notify the town manager before contacting town attorneys. When I called to tell her that I was going to call the Labor Attorney concerning technical questions I had, she was on a phone call so I left her a voice message. I asked her to call me if she had any questions. When I called the town labor attorney, I stated the same thing.

5. She stated that Mr. Dostaler and I came in on Thursday, November 10th and that she was getting in the way of ‘my agenda.’

This is not true.

I called Mr. Weichsel at 10 am on Thursday, to see how he was doing and find out when his doctor was giving him the OK to return to work. He was happy to report that on Monday, November 7, his doctor told him he was ready to return. When I asked him why he wasn’t returning until the 21st, he said it was because Ms. McKinney had a few more things she wanted to do. I reminded him that his biggest priority was dealing with the PD personnel issues and that he had the experience and know-how while Ms. McKinney had none. He said he could and would return on Monday. Mr. Weichsel confirmed this at the November 22nd Town Council meeting.

Mr. Dostaler and I went over to see Ms. McKinney at 11:00 a.m. on November 10th to tell her the good news. She initially reacted defensively and thought we were telling her to leave. I was surprised and said “absolutely not.” I said that she and Mr. Weichsel should come up with a transition schedule and that anything that she was currently working on, Mr. Weichsel could handle. We were just letting her know Mr. Weichsel would be back on the 14th. My only ‘agenda’ is to act in the best interest of our town and its residents.

6. Ms. McKinney said that we called the media.

This is not true.

Jeff Mill from the Middletown Press was at the Town Hall to talk with Ms. McKinney and a police officer. Within an hour after returning to my office from meeting with Ms. McKinney, Josh Anusewicz from the Rivereast News called me for a comment after receiving several calls from “concerned” citizens stating we “fired” Ms. McKinney. Both reporters will confirm this.

7. Ms. McKinney said that when she saw me at the high school on Monday, 10/31, after the storm and that my only concern was getting rid of the brush, not the residents who were without power.

This is not true.

Prior to Ms. McKinney arriving, I had already spoken with our Public Works Director who informed me of the streets they were working on to clear, the percentage of the town without power, and the meetings he had scheduled with CL&P reps. When Ms. McKinney arrived, I told her that residents were asking about brush collection. I knew it wasn’t priority number one, but that she might want to discuss options with our Public Works Director so Cathy Sirois could give out information when residents called in. My only concern that night was the residents and their needs. I listened to their concerns, helped when I could, and passed on information.

Editor's note: The response had initially been attached to this story as a pdf.