To the editor:

I’ve read articles on the “so-called illegal actions” by our Tupper Lake Town supervisor, town attorney and joint planning board in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and Free Press and must respond.

It seems that Supervisor Dattola, Attorney Gagnier and joint planning board members have very little if any support from the town council members as to their integrity and actions. Why? Has there been an egregious act committed against the people of Tupper Lake? I think not. I’ve known the supervisor most of his life and served with him on the town board. His integrity in my opinion is above reproach as is the integrity of the town attorney and planning board members.

Because one person continues stirring the pot about the town supervisor on everything, not just getting approval for septic systems from our joint town/village planning board on a development project that the supervisor is involved with. You jump!

Now, as to the land of this proposed development having been owned by the town this is a falsehood, it is owned by the Franklin County IDA and is totally tax exempt! As the project progresses it will add to our town’s tax base and when these lots are sold it will add even more to our tax base and help to reduce future town tax increases.

Furthermore the joint planning board has allowed septic systems in other developments, because to require municipal sewer would’ve been cost prohibitive to the developers and to those who purchase these lots. The developers will install municipal water to the entire development at a sizeable cost to them.

What has occurred here is something that occurs in small towns quite often because people wear more than one hat while serving the community.

Making it seem that the supervisor, town attorney and planning board members are guilty of some criminal activity, our four town council members seem to forget that without proof there is no crime.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear, the town attorney is appointed to his position not solely by the town supervisor but by the town board. The same is true of the joint planning board members since the town board appoints their members and the village board appoints their members.

I can’t believe the councilors are questioning the integrity of all these people because someone does not like the town supervisor or anyone one associated with him or his company. As far as to all these so called individuals that have approached you about this issue I believe them to be a small minority. Supervisor Dattola was just re-elected by extremely large numbers this past November. I believe that the majority of Tupper Lake voters knew of his integrity!

I’d ask this person to stop his personal battle with our town supervisor and to consider running for public office here in Tupper Lake. It seems as though you are upset because Mr. Dattola will not be required to expend needless dollars on municipal sewer in his proposed development.

To the four town councilors, I believe that a majority of the voting public will remember just how you are treating Supervisor Dattola, Town Attorney Gagnier and all the planning board members right now without any actual proof of wrongdoing. I know that I will.

Finally there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to bring in any NY state agency on this. Simply ask all of the parties involved just what took place. You might well be surprised by what you hear!!!

Lastly, perceived conflicts of interest are not actually a conflict of interest.

Think before you act.

Dean D. Lefebvre

Former Supervisor

Town of Tupper Lake