Ripley Deputy Supervisor Jeffrey Lyon led the regular meeting after Supervisor Donald Rice and board member Donald Henry resigned unexpectedly. Photo by David Prenatt

RIPLEY — Many residents were shocked to learn that the newly elected supervisor and board member resigned their positions after only 18 days into their new terms of office.

Supervisor Donald Rice and board member Donald Henry submitted their letters of resignation last week. Rice indicated his resignation would be effective on Jan. 19, adding “I wish nothing but the best for the entire community.”

Henry’s letter indicated that his resignation was to take effect Jan. 18 due to a “conflict of interest.”

Deputy Supervisor Jeffrey Lyon who, along with Rice, was elected on Nov. 7, also tendered his resignation. However, he withdrew it so the Ripley Town Board would have a quorum at the regular meeting on Jan. 19.

“I am concerned for this town,” Lyon said. “I don’t want to quit. I’ve lived here long enough that I get to the point when things are said and said and said, it can get to be too much.”

Lyon said he would continue to serve on the board while he considers what course of action to take. However, he noted, people should be aware of the facts before they complain.

“I want people to make an educated complaint,” he said. “I’m looking out for this town. This is where I’m going to be buried.”

Details of what precipitated the resignations are unclear at this point. One source close to town officials said it seemed like things had been going well.

Rice and Henry submitted their resignations shortly after a special meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 17, which was ordered by Rice. The agenda for the meeting was “discussion regarding legal representation.”

At the special meeting, board members accepted a resolution to change the town’s law firm from Wright Calimeri PLLC to Hodgson Russ LLC. However, at the regular meeting on Jan. 18, board members approved a resolution to reinstate Wright Calimeri PLLC if the firm is willing.

During the regular meeting, after Lyon rescinded his resignation, several residents expressed their dismay with the whole turn of events.

Tracey Curtis was one of the Ripley residents who spoke. “I just found out today that board members are resigning,” she said. “This town has a population of 944 people and almost 700 came out and voted because they wanted change.”

Curtis went on to say that she feels the council members must have been bullied by someone. “I’m so disappointed that in 18 days, people are going to push our officials to resign,” she said. “They did not even have a chance to prove themselves. The new board was not given a fair shake.”

Wanda Bentley reiterated Curtis’s remarks.

“The second something changed, we did not give the board a chance,” she said. “This town is worth it and we shouldn’t bully people.”

Several people said they had heard there were phone calls made to Rice and council members. It was also said that complaints about the new board members had been posted on Facebook. However, this could not be verified.

Lyon noted if someone has a complaint, they should bring it directly to the board. “As far as I’m concerned, political complaints don’t belong on social media,” he said.

Town Justice Vera Hustead said she had only heard about the resignations that day when, during a court session, a lawyer asked her who the town attorney was going to be.

At the December meeting of the town board, Hustead offered a tribute to retiring Town Supervisor Doug Bowen, Deputy Supervisor Mike Rowe and long-time Clerk Rebecca Carvello- Rowe. This was the last regular board meeting for the three officials.

“These three have given so much of their time to make Ripley a better place to live,” she said. “It’s sad to see friends go, I’ve learned how difficult it is to get good people to run for elected office.”