Politics & Government

Mayor French Responds to Sack's Transparency Steps

Rye Mayor Douglas French believes "accelerating change in the enterprise model is where the city needs to make a difference," in regards to the Rye Golf Club.

In response to Rye City Councilman Joe Sack's letter to the editor, which lays out 11 steps he feels the council should take in order to ensure more openness and transparency in government, Mayor Douglas French sent the press the following statement on Wednesday, March 20: 

While I agree the actions of the Golf Club Manager over at least a 6-year period are cause for the greatest concern, I think accelerating change in the enterprise model is where the City needs to make a difference.  50 years of a City Manager form of government has served the City well and would not suggest we change policies toward a strong Mayor-Council and administrator model as suggested that invite politics into business decisions.

Rather, lean governments need to ensure checks and balances and the Council and City Manager will formulate those as a take away. Items 2 and 6 are in practice already. The other recommendations have been reviewed with and we can do so again.

While the Golf Club members should have increased authority and representation on basic operating, it is a City asset of the taxpayers and so exclusive decision-making by members that do not have an equity stake is not advised. It is a public club.

Finally, I do not support a state of perpetual investigation. The Board of Ethics has served well as we have seen over the decades. We can review if we need to expand and empower.


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