Williamsville, NY (WBEN) Williamsville's deputy mayor says there is a toxic environment on the village board, and he is stepping down. Matthew Etu says he's pointing the finger for his resignation at Mayor Deborah Rogers.
Etu issued his resignation letter Sunday, claiming "its environment now is the most toxic and destructive as I have ever seen it" in his four years on the board, adding other past board members agree. "I will state plainly that Mayor Deborah Rogers is the reason I am resigning my position," contends Etu. "In the last 12 to 18 months, but increasingly so over the last six weeks, the Village Board's focus has veered so far from the one I joined that I can no longer in good conscience say I identify with what it stands for," he writes.
Etu cites an example from late November. "The mayor called me "unhinged" because she and I differed on the topic of mask mandates. Meanwhile, she lost focus on the issues that are most pressing to the village and sought to create an echo chamber where she sees herself as a constitutional patriot, framing the majority of board members as traitors," says Etu.
He also says Rogers allowed a December 13th meeting to get out of hand. "I watched stunned as the mayor appeared to revel in the chaos and vitriol spewed at her fellow board members. There is no doubt she failed in her role as chair of the chamber. Mayor Rogers appeared to encourage, stir, and cheerlead the unruly, unmasked crowd. After 135 minutes of verbal abuse, the mayor attempted to compel the Board into an empty gesture that supported her agenda," says Etu who adds he was taken aback and shell-shocked.
Rogers responded, "While we certainly have strong differences of opinion on some subjects, Mr. Etu was an asset to the Village Board," she said. "His expertise and contributions to the community will be missed by myself and my fellow board members." Rogers says she was disheartened by Etu's resignation, only learning it on Monday. "It is unfortunate that differences of opinions have left Mr. Etu feeling like he had no other alternative but to resign," Rogers said. "Conflicts are a part of everyday life in government and dealing with them adequately is a necessary skill."
Rogers added that the Village Board continues to be focused on serving the community and the needs of its more than 5,400 residents and vibrant Main Street business district
Etu hopes his stepping aside will be a wake up call to the village and the board.
