The abrupt departure of Councilwoman Pam Tarlow left Rye’s political parties scrambling against the clock to vet candidates to appoint her replacement. That person will also have to run in the November 2 election.* Had Ms. Tarlow informed the City Council about her move in advance, time and calm could have attended the process. For the record, Tarlow NEVER submitted a letter or formally told the Mayor and Council about her leaving.
As early as June 27, Tarlow told the City Manager she was contemplating a move and would announce it when appropriate. She requested confidentiality, which the City Manager obliged. It was not until the City’s Corporation Counsel, Kristen Wilson, having heard from Tarlow about her “confidential” move, felt ethically obliged to inform the Mayor that Tarlow had moved out of her Rye home with no intent to return and therefore had vacated her office as a matter of law. This was two days before the July 22 Council meeting. Tarlow’s lack of professionalism is baffling.
Prior to the Council meeting, Tarlow asked Wilson for an assurance that, if she didn’t attend the meeting, no one on the Council would make comments critical of her.
It was Tarlow’s decision not to attend the July 22 meeting. No one told her she could not attend, nor did anyone say that he/she would speak ill of her at the meeting.
Per Councilwoman Sara Goddard’s suggestion that the Council should have thanked Tarlow for her service to the community at the meeting, it was rather hard to do so given that Tarlow sent a surrogate, Suki van Dijk, who falsely claimed that the Mayor and Council threatened Tarlow.
To provide more background and transparency about the timeline of events, particularly the fact that the Council was NOT informed by Tarlow about moving out of Rye and that NO ONE threatened her, we received the following timeline from Kristen Wilson:
As Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, we look forward to working together in a collegial and non-partisan manner for the betterment of Rye citizens and without the strife we have endured with Pam Tarlow as a Council member.
The artificial turf and drainage installation will transform an 82,000-square-foot athletic field on 6.75 acres…
City school district taxpayers can cast their ballots in advance of this month’s $110.5 million…
This year's Rye City Board of Education election is uncontested.
Joan Chessman Shipman passed peacefully in her home with her son, Jerry, 49, and dogs…
Vincent J. Ballantoni Jr., a resident of Rye, N.Y. for more than 48 years, a…
Kids bounced in bouncy castles and munched on cotton candy at the Annual Midland Fair on April…