WILMINGTON - Vandalism and alcohol use outside of the Wilmington Youth Center, a controversial surveillance camera and the sudden resignation of youth center Director Michelle Hozley were all topics at the Wilmington town board meeting on Tuesday night.
An unusually large crowd of about 30 residents attended the meeting, filling up every seat in the house. But only a few spoke, asking the question: What exactly happened here?
The issue arose just before Christmas, when Supervisor Randy Preston instructed a town employee to place a small camera in the branches of a tree facing the youth center. The camera has since been removed.
"That camera was placed there because of ongoing vandalism, unfortunately," Preston said during the meeting. "On top of the vandalism, what's even more troubling to me - as it was to the entire board - is the smoking and the beer drinking that's been going on at the youth center property."
Preston said he and others had found beer cans and a "magnitude" of cigarette butts on the premises.
Many agreed that surveillance outside of the youth center was necessary to stop such problems after hours.
"But that's not the issue," said resident Nancy Reed. "The issue is how the camera was put up there. I think having a camera is a great idea, to protect everybody, but it has to be done the right way."
Apparently, the camera was put into place without the knowledge of the town board, which bothered some community members.
"Shouldn't there have been a board meeting on that, to install a camera?" asked Brian Reed. "Lake Placid put a camera up on Main Street, and it was in the paper. Everyone knew about it. People talked about it."
Reed also questioned what methods were used to review any surveillance footage, saying that the supervisor had no right to act alone without the consent of the board. Reed accused Preston of putting the camera up for personal reasons beyond protecting the children.
"Well, you're entitled to you're opinion, of course," Preston said. "But my opinion is it wasn't put up for personal reasons. There was vandalism-"
"Then why wasn't anyone notified about it?" Nancy Reed interrupted.
At one point, an audience member cried out, "It was illegal. What you did was illegal." But Preston denied the allegations.
"There was nothing illegal about what was done," the supervisor said. "It is the town's responsibility to maintain a safe and secure environment for children. And allowing smoking and drinking at a youth center property is not something this board wishes to condone."
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Permanent cameras
Board members admitted they hadn't been informed of the camera being put up, but they said they were in full support of purchasing and installing permanent security cameras for the youth center in the near future.
"I realize that people are upset and that they maybe don't agree with how that camera was placed there, but it was," Preston said. "It's not there anymore, and we're letting you know now that we're putting in a permanent system."
Several residents agreed with the idea, such as hotel owner Al Armstrong.
"If people weren't doing bad things in this town, we wouldn't need these cameras in the first place," he said. "We've had issues on our property also. I don't have cameras, but I think your choice of getting a security system is a given. It's something we need to have."
In the past, there have been town-owned cameras monitoring the town beach at the end of Bowman Lane, and the dam area in the center of town, according to Preston. There are also cameras and security systems at several businesses in Wilmington.
"As sad as it may be, no matter where you go, you're going to have cameras," Preston said. "I don't think, on public property, that it should have been such a surprise to anyone - it's a very common thing. And it's too bad we have to resort to that."
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Youth director angry
Michelle Hozley, who resigned from her position as youth director on Jan. 5, said she wasn't notified about the surveillance camera, which led to a dispute.
"A few of the kids found it in the tree," she said in a recent interview. "I wasn't sure who had put it up there, so I was concerned."
Hozley described it as a small, camouflaged "hunting camera." She said she called two local officials, including town Councilman Stephen Corvelli, who didn't know anything about it.
"There was a hunting camera in a tree, and I didn't know who put it there," Hozley said. "My job is to protect those kids. I love those kids, and I did what I thought was right."
On Dec. 26., the day she found the camera, Hozley removed it.
The following day, she said, she received a call from Preston, who told her she had no right to touch the camera. According to Hozley, a special meeting of the Wilmington Youth Commission was called on Tuesday, Jan. 4 to address the issue. After an argument with Preston, Hozley said she was given a two-day suspension "for the way I handled myself."
"And I said, 'You're going to suspend me for doing my job?'" Hozley said. "No, absolutely not. I'm not taking a suspension for doing my job. If a predator had put that camera up, I would have been a hero."
Hozley said she didn't want to admit any guilt by taking the suspension "because I hadn't done anything wrong," so she resigned and stormed out of the meeting. Hozley resigned officially the following day.
She said she was appalled by what had happened, calling Preston's actions "sneaky and underhanded."
"He does what he wants, and he doesn't answer to anybody," Hozley said. "That's not how this town should be run, and that's not how elected officials should handle themselves. Randy does what Randy wants."
Preston said he couldn't comment on Hozley's resignation because it involved town personnel.
"We cannot discuss employee issues publicly," he said. "It doesn't matter who it is."
Of the suspension, town Councilman Darren Forbes said there were other issues aside from those involving the camera, but he didn't offer much else: "We'll leave it at that."
Hozley said she has received much support from kids of the youth center, parents and other community members since her resignation.
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Change to come
Aside from the search for a new director, Preston said other changes will likely be made to the running of the youth center, such as a setting an age limit for those who use the facility.
"There isn't currently an age limit, which is something the board has discussed," Preston said. "We haven't made anything concrete, but we're thinking about making 19 the cut-off."
A mentor program may be set up to accommodate those who wish to attend the youth center who are older than 19.
Wilmington Youth Commission meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the youth center. Town officials encouraged parents and members of the public to attend.
"We'd love to have more people participate in the youth commission and what goes on with the kids," Preston said. "Whether you agree with what happened or you don't, the kids in this town are our most valuable resource."
