It would be difficult to find any local resident who has been as community-minded as William "Bill" Mirabito.
A respected businessman who has given generously to several causes, Mirabito has taken on more than his share of thankless tasks, including being a member of the Oneonta school board, and currently, the town board.
Mirabito is clearly a man of integrity.
That is why he must recuse himself from any involvement with the Oneonta Town Board's debate and voting concerning proposed moratoriums on natural gas drilling.
Mirabito said he is a 21 percent shareholder of Mirabito Holdings, which owns 10 percent of Corning Natural Gas. Because of that 10 percent stake in that company, Mirabito said, he sits on the board of directors for Corning Natural Gas.
Mirabito Holdings and Corning Natural Gas each has a 50 percent share in Leatherstocking LLC, which Mirabito said is pursuing pipeline franchises in Chenango County.
None of the companies is involved in gas leasing or gas drilling, he said.
Mirabito said Sunday he has consulted with his own attorney, David Merzig, town attorney Richard Harlem, and a corporate attorney, and they have determined there is no conflict of interest.
"If someone told me there was a conflict, I would recuse myself," he said. "I don't have any conflict."
Perhaps not, but when it comes to public confidence in a councilman or the board itself, the appearance of a conflict of interest is as damaging as an actual conflict.
We firmly believe that Mirabito would not allow his possible fiduciary interests to interfere in what he believes is best for the town. But that said, any vote or argument by him in favor of a shorter rather than longer moratorium would come into question by opponents or observers of the process.
For instance, at a recent board meeting, Mirabito brought up the possibility of the town being vulnerable to threats of lawsuits based on moratoriums.
It was a good point. At least, it was something worthy of consideration.
But for it to be put forward by Mirabito immediately made it subject to speculation regarding his motives.
There are members of the board who do not have an open mind when it comes to the hydrofracturing issue. Some have been elected primarily based on their opposition to fracking.
But there is a difference in politics of all kinds between someone having a political prejudice and those who might benefit financially from a bill or policy.
Perhaps that shouldn't be the case, but there it is.
Because Bill Mirabito is an honest man, it should be clear that the right thing for him to do is to recuse himself.
Opinion
Mirabito should recuse himself on fracking issues
- Opinion
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In Memoriam
This message appears each Memorial Day weekend in The Daily Star.
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Letters to the Editor: May 26, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 25, 2012
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Facebook’s fizzle was no surprise
Facebook’s IPO last week was supposed to be a moment of triumph for the social network, but the event quickly devolved into an ugly tale of duplicity, hubris and greed, as the stock lost 18 percent of its value in the first two days of trading.
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Letters to the Editor: May 24, 2012
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Heegan must show vision for Chamber
In selecting Barbara Ann Heegan as its executive director last week, the Otsego County Chamber would seem to have chosen a safe rather than a bold path for its immediate future.
- Wednesday, May 23, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 23, 2012
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Can't have a third party without a candidate
What if they gave a party ... and nobody came?
- Tuesday, May 22, 2012
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Cheers
To Bike to Work Day, Cooperstown Quiz Team, Arts Field Day, the SUNY Delhi Centennial.
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Letters to the Editor: May 22, 2012
- Monday, May 21, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 21, 2012
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The world does move
To look at a newspaper from 1912, 1937, 1962 or 1987, it can seem as though positively everything has changed.
- Saturday, May 19, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 19, 2012
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Graduates, take acquired skills, set sail on job voyage
This weekend, many colleges and universities -- including SUNY Delhi and SUNY Oneonta -- will bestow degrees of various levels and types upon their students.
- Friday, May 18, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 18, 2012
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'Whale' failure shows how little has changed
One positive development resulting from JPMorgan's recent $2 billion trading blunder is increased scrutiny of the regulations put in place since 2008 to prevent a repeat of that year's financial collapse.
- Thursday, May 17, 2012
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Taxes spoke louder than sentiment in voting
It has become a virtually immutable fact of modern-day industry and politics. Given the choice between financial interest and sentiment, money always wins.
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Letters to the Editor: May 17, 2012
- Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 16, 2012
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Gas companies need to play nice with residents
"You need to assure me that you are going to talk to the towns." This was Rep. Chris Gibson's plea to the gas companies that are seeking to lay natural gas pipelines through the local area.
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In Memoriam
