FONDA - For the second year in a row, Amsterdam Town Supervisor Thomas DiMezza is not on any committees of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors.
In 2011, it was by his choice. This year, he thinks the reason is personal.
Charleston Supervisor Shayne T. Walters, newly elected chairman of the Board of Supervisors, has released his list of committee assignments. DiMezza's name is nowhere to be seen, and he is not happy.
"If there's a good resolution I want to go to the full board and it gets shot down in committee, I have no say," he said. "I'm not going to get any resolutions through, and Ron Barone is not going to get any resolutions through."
Barone, the city of Amsterdam's 3rd Ward supervisor, is assigned to the General Services and Health and Human Services committees.
DiMezza said he asked Minden Supervisor Thomas Quackenbush, chairman of the board in 2011, not to name him to any committees. He did not ask Walters for the same favor this year.
DiMezza said Walters gave him two different answers when he asked why he was not named to any committees.
"When I asked [Walters] about it, he said he just copied the assignments from last year," DiMezza said. "But a couple of people were listening, and he changed his tune and said he didn't want me on any committees."
Walters said he never told DiMezza he just copied last year's list. He said he didn't assign DiMezza to any committees because DiMezza does not support him.
"Every year [the chairman has] more than one committee list in mind," Walters said. "The chairman is looking for support. Tom DiMezza has not supported me in any way, shape or form."
Walters accused DiMezza of holding up a stopwatch when Walters talks at meetings.
"He'll hold a stopwatch behind my head, and he thinks I don't see it, but I see the reflection in the window," Walters said.
Walters also said DiMezza has told him to "go back to the farm" and made similar rude comments.
"Obviously Tom DiMezza is not looking to get along with me and support me in any way," Walters said. "A difference of opinion is one thing, but a complete lack of respect is something else."
John R. Becker covers Montgomery County news. He can be reached at montco@leaderherald.com.
