OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Cassadaga Village Trustee Mark Wilson will no longer speak about Wilson Endurance Sports at future Village Board of Trustees meetings as long as he remains on the Village Board.
Wilson Endurance Sports, run by directors Mark Wilson and Tonia Wilson, has been the subject of recent ethics complaints filed by village resident Judith Garncarek. Three ethics complaints were filed against Village Trustee Mark Wilson, with one complaint filed against both Village Clerk Roxanne Astry and Mayor Bill Dorman.
The Village of Cassadaga frequently hosts several sporting events directed by Wilson Endurance Sports, in which tourists often visit the village to compete. In response to criticism that Mark Wilson’s presence as a member of the Village Board of Trustees presents an ethical dilemma when Wilson Endurance Sports is the subject of discussion, Mark Wilson will no longer speak on behalf of -business from his seat on the board.
“Going forward, as long as Mark is on the Board of Trustees, I will be reporting to Wilson Endurance Sports on all aspects of the business, including donations, parking, insurance, and permit applications,” said Tonia Wilson at a recent Village Board of Trustees meeting.
Tonia Wilson also offered an answer to the criticism of her presence in the village’s Ethics Committee.
Tonia Wilson, co-director of Wilson Endurance Sports, will address all business matters at future Village Board of Trustees meetings.
“Regarding my presence in the Ethics Committee, as long as Mayor Dorman and Attorney Joe Calimeri agree that my position does not conflict with the village board, then I will remain in the committee. If they ask me to resign, I will do so immediately,” she said.
Also in the public comment portion of the recent meeting, village resident Bob Reuther offered a defense of the Wilson’s business and their character.
“I worked with Mark and Tonia regarding their business. I can’t say enough about how good they are to our community and what they’ve done for us,” he said. He added the decision to allow Tonia to speak on behalf of the business, “done correctly.”
Later in the meeting, the Village Board introduced a local law on expanding residency requirements for appointed village officials to allow residents from neighboring municipalities to be appointed to village positions. The proposed law would only pertain to appointed positions, not elected officials.
“In the past, we have had difficulties filling positions with residents,” said Deputy Mayor Bill Astry. “This allows us to choose people for appointed positions from outside the village.”
A public hearing will be held to discuss the proposed law at 6:30 pm, January 11, prior to the regularly scheduled Village Board of Trustees meeting.
