It has been recently reported that the mayor of this village is attempting to change the law of the State of New York that was enacted to give the public the right to have access to public records of a municipality so that the public can be made fully aware of the operations of the said government. So why is the mayor attempting to destroy and rescind this valuable and precious right of the public which is for the purpose of keeping the government honest and to prevent any possible wrongdoing, fraud or chicanery to the detriment of the general public, especially as it relates to election records?

As reported earlier, the executive director of the New York State Committee on Open Government has said that voter records have always been within the public's right to access. The director of public information for New York State Board of Elections has stated that the reason the records are public is to forestall fraud in an election.

Again, why is the mayor attempting to be a minority of one in destroying portions of the Freedom of Information Law which requires that all public records of any kind be made available for public inspection or reproduction unless the record falls under a specifically designated exception?

The attempt to nullify or modify this law, in my opinion, is the act of a demagogue who is trying to do away with one of the most valuable and precious laws which brings the public citizen closer to the daily operations of our government. Altadonna's alleged concern for the concealment of certain governmental records is indicative of a dictatorial form of government not answerable to the public because of the unavailability of public records.

Will the mayor next attempt to prevent the public from seeking to inspect the building records, certificates of occupancies, permits and certificates of completion, again, to weaken the Freedom of Information Law?

One would think that the mayor would welcome the disclosure of voting records to reveal the truth of whether there were any improprieties in the most recent election of the village officials in March 2002. Why is Mayor Altadonna trying to limit the right of the public to obtain voting records when, as reported in the paper earlier, the director of public information for the New York State Board of Elections has stated that the reason the records are public is to forestall fraud in an election?

The mayor has a fiduciary responsibility and obligation to investigate any and all facts as to any possible impropriety or illegal action by anyone in the said election. If he does not fulfill this obligation, he is creating the perception of impropriety which is a violation of his duties as a public official. Such an attempt to modify or prevent the disclosure of voting records is contrary to the tenets of democracy.

Wake up Mr. Mayor! Start fulfilling your obligations as a trusted official and comply with state law. Most importantly, do not attempt to modify the Freedom of Information Law that is endorsed and honored by every public official except you.

Robert M. Leff

Former Village Attorney