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December 27, 2007

Symbolic resolution fails at city council meeting

By DAN HEATH

PLATTSBURGH -- A resolution to rename the City of Plattsburgh Wastewater Treatment Plant after two local reporters was easily defeated Thursday night.

Outgoing Councilor William Provost proposed a resolution to rename the City of Plattsburgh Wastewater Treatment Plant the Ducky Drake/Joe LoTemplio Water Pollution Control Plant. He said it was a symbolic issue and he was clearly not anticipating that it would pass.

After the meeting, he said he drafted the resolution to call attention to unfair and untruthful reporting by LoTemplio and Drake.

"It's been inaccurate on too many occasions to not address," Provost said. "If they can do that to an elected official and expect to get a free pass, they didn't get a free pass."

He said he believes some of his views about the war in Iraq and other national issues may have led to some of the problems.

Outgoing Councilor Michael Drew seconded the motion. He said he did so to allow it to be discussed.

Councilor Jim Calnon said that while he understood the point Provost was trying to make, he didn't think it should be a policy of the city. He requested Provost withdraw the resolution, but he didn't.

"One of the things we've talked about around this table is how the city appears to folks outside (it)," Calnon said.

Drew said he didn't think any other council members shared Provost's contempt for the two reporters. He also felt the resolution would make a mockery of the council.

"For a politician to be upset with the media is like a person at sea being upset with pirates," he said.

Mayor Donald Kasprzak said his thoughts about the matter went from anger to disappointment Thursday. He said that while he's friends with Drake and LoTemplio, they don't always agree.

"I'm disappointed that in the last meeting of the year we have to address this," Kasprzak said. "I do support these two individuals personally and professionally."

The resolution failed by a 5-1 vote.

Responding to Provost's resolution, Press-Republican Editor Robert Grady said it's hard to take something like this very seriously.

"Maybe he was just trying to be funny. Joe LoTemplio's 22 years of excellent reporting are unchallenged," Grady said. "I assume it was another case of an unsuccessful candidate for office who blames the news media for his failure to be elected."

Kasprzak and the 2008 Plattsburgh City Council were sworn in following Thursday's council meeting.

In a brief ceremony, Clinton County Court Judge Patrick McGill administered the oath of office to Kasprzak and councilors Timothy Carpenter (D-Ward 1), Mike Kelly (D-Ward 2), George Rabideau (R-Ward 3), James Calnon (Common Sense-Ward 4), Amy Valentine (D-Ward 5) and Chris Jackson (D-Ward 6).

Kasprzak, Rabideau, Calnon and Valentine are incumbents who were re-elected, while Carpenter, Kelly and Jackson are new to the council, replacing Drew, James Godfrey and Provost, respectively.

dheath@pressrepublican.com

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