The village board canceled the public meeting which was scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18. This action was wrong, arrogant and a strong slap at free expression and democracy in the Village of Mineola.

At the Dec. 2 meeting, I asked the reasons for the cancellation of the Nov. 18 meeting. I was told there was no business to conduct by the village board and therefore no reason to have a meeting. This excuse is no excuse at all. The purpose of a public meeting is to allow residents and business persons to have an opportunity to express their concerns and ask questions about problems facing the Village of Mineola. The village board has a fiduciary responsibility to the community to hold public meetings when scheduled and not cancel any public meeting except for a very special reason.

The village board admitted that at least three (3) members of the board were available for the Nov. 18 public meeting which constitutes a legal quorum. Hopefully, in the future this type of action, which is disgraceful, won't occur again.

Scott Fairgrieve