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Kramarchyk will complete board term
By Paul Crossman
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Kinderhook Town Board member Mary Kramarchyk — who according to a report filed Sept. 10 by the office of state Inspector General Joseph Fisch, allegedly violated the Hatch Act — has been cleared of all wrongdoing, and, with the full support of the Town Board, will be allowed to finish out her final term on the council.
The report states that the local woman had broken the law by running for election for a Town Office while being employed by the state in a position partially funded by the federal government. Before running for such an office, the Hatch Act states that Kramarchyk should have notified the proper authorities and first asked permission to run, as there could be an issue if there was an appearance of a conflict of interest between her position with the state and her office as councilwoman.
The act though, does not say she would not be able to hold office, but merely that she should have first requested permission to run.
“The only way I broke the Hatch Act was by seeking election in the first place without permission, not by actually serving on the board” said Kramarchyk, adding that neither she nor her supervisors were aware at the time that permission was necessary.
She also said that the report seemed blown out of proportion as she was spoken to by the authorities who enforce the Hatch Act, and told she would not be remonstrated, that the act was over and done with, and that she could finish out her term without breaking any laws.
“I approach my work openly and honestly,” she told the Register-Star. “Anyone in the community would have been able to tell if it had been any different.”
At a Town Board meeting Friday, other members of the board also expressed their high opinion of Kramarchyk, and their belief that the report had been over the top and unnecessary.
“We as a board have always liked working with you,” Town Supervisor Doug McGivney told Kramarchyk, “And I for one, really appreciate everything you’ve done for the town.” He went on to ask why the issue was being raised at the end of her term.
“Why now?” he asked. “It’s been eight years.”
Kramarchyk said she had been serving the town for eight years before she heard there was any kind of problem, and only then when she was told formally that she was being investigated by the Investigator General’s Office.
The investigation began, according to the report, when a confidential source had given them the information. Kramarchyk, though she won’t reveal whom she suspects the source is, says that the complaint was part of a work-related conflict and not relevant at all to her role on the council.
“When you work for the state, people can really say anything they want about you and it needs to be investigated,” said Kramarchyk, adding that this was how the whole issue undoubtedly got started.
The Town Board was unanimous in support and members were eager to see her name cleared.
“I think it’s a shame that you’ve been on this board for eight years, and now something like this comes out and tries to discredit you as a person,” said Deputy Supervisor Debbie Johnson. “I’ve always respected your ideas and contributions to the board.”
Supervisor McGivney also wanted to add that no issues the board had addressed could possibly have been considered a conflict of interest with Kramarchyk’s work for the state, and that he felt she had always acted fairly and appropriately.
Another member of the board, Peter Bujanow even went so far as to say that even though there were no work-related repercussions to Kramarchyk breaking the Hatch Act, he believes that the act itself needs serious work.
“I think that the Hatch Act precludes many good people from running for public office and needs to be revised,” he told the rest of the board.
Kramarchyk herself was deeply upset by the allegations that she had been knowingly breaking any law by trying to serve the town, and was grateful for the continued support of the board.
McGivney and the rest of the board were just happy that the long-time councilwoman would be able to finish out the remaining term with them.
“We just want you to know that this board appreciates what you’ve done,” McGivney told her towards the end of the meeting.
***
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com.
The report states that the local woman had broken the law by running for election for a Town Office while being employed by the state in a position partially funded by the federal government. Before running for such an office, the Hatch Act states that Kramarchyk should have notified the proper authorities and first asked permission to run, as there could be an issue if there was an appearance of a conflict of interest between her position with the state and her office as councilwoman.
The act though, does not say she would not be able to hold office, but merely that she should have first requested permission to run.
“The only way I broke the Hatch Act was by seeking election in the first place without permission, not by actually serving on the board” said Kramarchyk, adding that neither she nor her supervisors were aware at the time that permission was necessary.
She also said that the report seemed blown out of proportion as she was spoken to by the authorities who enforce the Hatch Act, and told she would not be remonstrated, that the act was over and done with, and that she could finish out her term without breaking any laws.
“I approach my work openly and honestly,” she told the Register-Star. “Anyone in the community would have been able to tell if it had been any different.”
At a Town Board meeting Friday, other members of the board also expressed their high opinion of Kramarchyk, and their belief that the report had been over the top and unnecessary.
“We as a board have always liked working with you,” Town Supervisor Doug McGivney told Kramarchyk, “And I for one, really appreciate everything you’ve done for the town.” He went on to ask why the issue was being raised at the end of her term.
“Why now?” he asked. “It’s been eight years.”
Kramarchyk said she had been serving the town for eight years before she heard there was any kind of problem, and only then when she was told formally that she was being investigated by the Investigator General’s Office.
The investigation began, according to the report, when a confidential source had given them the information. Kramarchyk, though she won’t reveal whom she suspects the source is, says that the complaint was part of a work-related conflict and not relevant at all to her role on the council.
“When you work for the state, people can really say anything they want about you and it needs to be investigated,” said Kramarchyk, adding that this was how the whole issue undoubtedly got started.
The Town Board was unanimous in support and members were eager to see her name cleared.
“I think it’s a shame that you’ve been on this board for eight years, and now something like this comes out and tries to discredit you as a person,” said Deputy Supervisor Debbie Johnson. “I’ve always respected your ideas and contributions to the board.”
Supervisor McGivney also wanted to add that no issues the board had addressed could possibly have been considered a conflict of interest with Kramarchyk’s work for the state, and that he felt she had always acted fairly and appropriately.
Another member of the board, Peter Bujanow even went so far as to say that even though there were no work-related repercussions to Kramarchyk breaking the Hatch Act, he believes that the act itself needs serious work.
“I think that the Hatch Act precludes many good people from running for public office and needs to be revised,” he told the rest of the board.
Kramarchyk herself was deeply upset by the allegations that she had been knowingly breaking any law by trying to serve the town, and was grateful for the continued support of the board.
McGivney and the rest of the board were just happy that the long-time councilwoman would be able to finish out the remaining term with them.
“We just want you to know that this board appreciates what you’ve done,” McGivney told her towards the end of the meeting.
***
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com.
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