The Ancram Town Board issued a formal letter of censure against Highway Superintendent Jim Miller at its July 16 meeting, citing an antisemitic remark he made to a resident before a June 4 Planning Board meeting.
Supervisor Colleen Lutz read the letter, stating Miller’s conduct violated both the Town of Ancram Code of Conduct and Employee Handbook. Lutz said the incident took place on town property before the meeting began.
“You indicated to a member of the public that he was an expletive old Jew,” Lutz read. “Your conduct fails to meet the standards expected of your position and undermines the integrity of the Town of Ancram. As a highway superintendent and employee of the town, you are expected to uphold the highest level of professional and ethical conduct. Your actions do not align with these expectations.”
Lutz said that the board recommends that Miller submit a letter of apology to the individual that experienced the hate speech.
Miller said he made the remarks as a private citizen, not in his official capacity, while on his way into the meeting.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize for that incident,” Miller said. “I encountered a neighbor that was one of the more vocal opponents for the solar project. It was proposed on a portion of land myself and my wife own. I said a couple of inappropriate things that I regret, words that grew out of frustration and the ridiculous amount of time and red tape encountered during the Planning Board permitting process.”
Miller was referring to a proposed solar project on his property that underwent a year-long public hearing process before the developer, RIC Energy, withdrew its application on June 17.
Town Board member David Boice proposed requiring all town employees to complete workplace violence and sexual harassment training on a regular basis. He proposed that any employee who goes three consecutive years without completing the training would lose access to town counsel in the event of a lawsuit and would be responsible for hiring their own attorney.
“We have people who are not taking it for the whole time that they’ve been in office and that’s got to stop,” Boice said.
Lutz agreed and said the board will draft a resolution ahead of its next meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20.
In other business, the board voted to appoint Michael Solomon and Jan Katz to the Financial Advisory Council. Board members Amy Gold and Jennifer Boice, along with Lutz, voted in favor, while David Boice voted against.
The board also appointed Justin Myers as Deputy Building Inspector at a rate of $23 per hour. Gold, Jennifer Boice and Lutz voted yes, while David Boice voted no, citing concerns over the town budget.