Mamakating Town Supervisor Charles Penna agreed to put down his poison pen, at least while wearing his public official hat. Over a hundred residents turned out for Tuesday's Town of Mamakating board meeting, March 20, to voice opinions, and demand accountability over recent political controversies.

Three local not-for-profit groups fell victim to Penna's bully pulpit last week: the Basha Kill Area Association (BKAA); the Phillipsport Community Center (PCC); and the Town of Mamakating Parks & Recreation Advisory Panel (TOMPARAP).

Personal opinions posted on the town website, distributed through flyers and faxes, and within letters submitted on town letterhead, were authored by Penna, accusing BKAA & PCC of harboring a subversive left-wing agenda. TOMPARAP was thrown into turmoil when Penna excluded BKAA member Maryallison Farely from attending a March 5 panel meeting. Panel president Jackie Broder resigned in protest, resulting with organizational splintering.

Following a workshop session, and some minor business, the town board went into executive session, to seek legal advice from town attorney Richard Stoloff. Penna stated the board needed "to discuss the website" in private. "I'm the personnel problem," he said with a grin.

Upon return, the town board passed a resolution. "There will be no more [internet] posting of personal opinions, by me, without review of the town board," Penna declared, "other than [official] events that are occurring." Penna insisted that the town board had no prior knowledge of his broadsides published last week, he acted alone.

Councilman John Sean Moriarty attempted to expand the restriction beyond the town website, to include printed matter. Penna objected, "Listen, I told you, you're not going to restrict my freedom of speech as far as pamphlets are concerned. You're breaching a very dangerous envelope, I told you that in closed doors. Even though I'm supervisor, I still have the right to an opinion."

Public comment then took up the next two hours, with twenty-five speakers. First word was given to BKAA President Paula Medley, who responded to a series of questions submitted in advance by Councilman Moriarty. In particular, Medley explained the BKAA's mission, whom membership is comprised of, how much money they raise. Roughly 500 members, nearly all New York residents, pay a $10 annual due. Half live in Mamakating, over 300 in Sullivan County. As for member qualifications, "a thick skin is probably one of the best ones," she quipped.

Much of the information Medley provided can be found on the group's website, www.thebashakill.org . Additional discussion focused on the term "steward," in describing BKAA's role as a watchdog organization for the Basha Kill nature preserve, owned and operated by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Penna's website propaganda (since removed from www.mamakating.org), gave strong connotations that BKAA is directly responsible for $10 million in lost tax revenue. A cartoon on the first page depicted BKAA as sharks, threatening taxpayers as an endangered species. "First your land, then your homes," warned the caption.

Further tensions between Penna and the BKAA stem from organized opposition to the Yukigumi Maitake mushroom factory, the town's biggest issue. Penna sees development as an economic boon, while BKAA members generally consider the project a threat to Bashakill wetlands and swamp. Ongoing BKAA litigation, attempting to stop Yukigumi Maitake, continues to aggravate Penna's frustration.

Nevertheless, Penna's politics are not entirely anti-environmental. Two recent examples include a linear park, dedicated last month, which runs alongside the Bashakill; and a solar energy contest, to be announced, which is expected to feature a grand prize of $10,000. The rift in Mamakating seems to be drawn instead along Democrat - Republican lines. Indeed, an equal amount of applause was afforded pro-Penna and anti-Penna speakers on March 20.

"Basically, what we have done, is create censorship with that resolution," Penna responded. "I cannot say anything unless it's audited by another group of people. I find it offensive, but I will respect it." He elaborated, "These town board meetings, most of them are just paying bills, and day to day business, none of them are very exciting. Come public comment time, it can get very abusive."

There are fifteen thousand people in this town, Penna indicated. The BKAA only represents 500 of them. "I wanted to see property taxes reduced, that has not happened. Every time that we lose a piece of taxable property, it is re-levied on the homeowners, and that's fine. I'm for clean air, I'm for clean water, I'm for open space," he continued, "but similar to what happens in Wawarsing, where the City of New York reimburses Wawarsing for the watershed areas, the State of New York should be reimbursing the town of Mamakating for its open space." The state currently contributes $70K per year for over 6,000 acres. "It's not fair compensation."

In a related issue, many speakers defended the Phillipsport Community Center against Penna's allegations. "The Phillipsport Veteran's so called 'memorial' is a fraud and is used for political purposes on extreme left-wing issues," Penna wrote regarding a PCC grant funding application. "It pains me deeply to do this," said Ken Morgan, Post 4947 VFW commander, "I voted for you in the last election, have a great deal of respect for you, and I hate doing what I'm doing, but I gotta." Morgan said it was an outrage for Penna to disparage the Phillipsport memorial.

A repeated complaint, was that supervisor Penna himself officiated the Phillipsport memorial dedication ceremony. Penna admitted, "I did go off a little too hard on them," and conceded that "I dishonored myself because I'm also a veteran." He promised to review the controversial writings, and make revisions for clarity. "I want to meet with that board in Phillipsport, and discuss this issue with them. I will apologize if I've done something wrong."

More discussion took place regarding the Town of Mamakating Parks & Recreation Advisory Panel, a private group of volunteers open to the public. Jackie Broder spoke, also Nate Berg and John Mal. The group is currently suffering a rift sparked by the hostilities; some support Penna's actions, while others oppose them.

"The fighting in Mamakating has to stop," urged former Wurtsboro ZBA chairman Bob Justus. "We have a problem with the airport, we have a problem with the Basha Kill. The problem is, it's like the Jets versus the Sharks. This is West Side Story re-do. Anyone who is familiar with West Side Story, it ends in tragedy, but that tragedy can be prevented if we work together. I am pro-growth, I am pro-environment, I am Mamakating."

Remaining board members unanimously admonished Penna for overstepping his bounds. "This was done without my knowledge and approval," said Councilman Moriarty. "We're here to work together, we passed a resolution," remarked Councilman Nicholas Salomone, Jr. "I think his Phillipsport letter, and using the town website for his own opinion, is inappropriate," Councilwoman Regina M. Saunders upbraided. "Please believe it was not my [opinion], nor any of ours."

Councilwoman Judy Young summated, "There was a terrible wrong done, I was shocked, and it's going to stop, hopefully. I can't control this person, I'm not allowed to kill him. I don't care if we're 15,000 people, we're all in it together, and we have to learn to work together."

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