November 9, 2021
Public Comment at Health and Family Services Meeting
My name is Anne Hart and I am a female small business owner in Sullivan County. I am also Chair of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee. I want to make it extremely clear that I am not here in the interest of partisan politics. I am making public comment at the Health and Family Services meeting because my comment addresses behaviors that directly affect the Health of Civil Discourse in our County, the Future of Families in our County, and the meaning of Service in our County. I am here because one of the most important lessons I learned from my family was that manners are the glue that keeps civilization together.
Civil society in Sullivan County is at a crossroads. Since Robert Doherty was elected Chair of this Legislature and Michael McGuire was appointed County Attorney, appropriate, professional and civil discourse has been thrown out the window. Recent, documented events at the Town of Liberty Board of Assessment Review Committee bear this out.
Intimidation, bullying and brutish behavior is unacceptable in every level of society, and especially in government service. Last April, our Executive Committee delivered a letter to the Sullivan County Legislature calling for the resignation of Robert Doherty as chair and the subsequent election of a Chair that will honorably and ethically serve as Chair. Our Committee urged that should Robert Doherty not resign, the remaining eight legislators move to amend the Charter of Sullivan County to allow for the recall of the Chair and subsequent removal from office. I am here today to deliver that letter again. It’s past time that County leadership stops acting like they are stars in a Grade B Gangster movie.
This is not politics; this is about how decent people should act. For those legislators who been silent about these behaviors, whether out of party loyalty or something else, you are as guilty of this disgusting, brutish behavior as if you had acted in this manner yourselves.
Force Robert Doherty to resign and elect a chair who understands what government service really is. Please include the April 23rd letter from the Executive Committee of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee in the minutes of this meeting.
Thank you.
Anne Hart
Chair, Sullivan County Democratic Committee