Selectman resigns to bid on project
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By Gordon Dritschilo STAFF WRITER - Published: June 30, 2009
PITTSFORD — Selectman David Markowski has resigned in order to bid on an upcoming water project.
Town Manager John Haverstock said Monday that Markowski, who runs an excavating company, announced his resignation during a meeting last week. He said Markowski also resigned from the Water and Sewer Commission.
"He inquired of our engineer what the state and federal rules might be about sitting on the committees as a bidder on projects funded with state and federal dollars," Haverstock said.
While the state did not have a problem with Markowski remaining on the boards and recusing himself from discussions of the project, federal officials told the project engineer Markowski should resign if he wanted to bid on it.
Voters approved a $4.75 million water bond in May for a project merging the Florence and Pittsford water systems, while making other improvements. The town hopes to take advantage of $1.3 million in federal stimulus money.
Markowski did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday.
"Any time an elected official has to resign, it's not a good thing," Select Board Chairman Hank Pelkey said. "He has a lot of experience, a lot of wisdom."
Haverstock said neither board is in a hurry to fill Markowski's seat.
"If Mr. Markowski is not the successful bidder, we are hopeful be would be able to be reappointed," he said. "We will cross that bridge when we get to it."
Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz said the board is within its rights to keep Markowski's seat open during the bidding process.
"The board can appoint whoever they like to fill the vacancy and that seems like a reasonable compromise," she said.
Markowitz added that the law still requires the board to post notice of the vacancy within 10 days and that the voters can, if they disagree with the board, petition for a special election to fill the seat.
"I'm sure if we said we were looking for someone, he would be the obvious choice because he's already been elected," Pelkey said.
gordon.dritschilo@rutlandherald.com
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