In a small rural county, people often wear multiple hats. Town officials, county representatives, nonprofit board members, and volunteers frequently serve in several roles at once. In Delaware County, that’s understandable and often unavoidable.
The issue is not people holding multiple positions. The issue is whether the standards used to judge conflicts of interest are applied consistently.
Recently, Delaware County leadership removed Hamden Supervisor Wayne Marshfield from a county committee because his role with Delaware Opportunities was deemed to create divided “loyalties.” County leadership argued that his responsibilities had become “irrevocably intertwined” and that his service created a conflict between two organizations, despite having served on both organizations for decades without issue.
That decision established a clear standard: overlapping responsibilities can create conflicts of interest and raise legitimate concerns about loyalty and judgment.
If that’s true, shouldn’t that standard apply to everyone?
Today, Delaware County residents are watching the Jim Thompson Center (formerly the e-center) in Delhi move toward county ownership through a transaction involving organizations with overlapping leadership. The Catskill Development Foundation, which controls the property, includes the Town of Meredith Supervisor on its board, who also serves on the Delaware County Board of Supervisors as the County Vice Chair. At the same time, the Delaware County Industrial Development Agency, which is expected to be given the property, is chaired by a member of the Meredith Town Board and is also Deputy to the Meredith Supervisor.
Whether anyone has broken the law is not the point. Whether everyone involved has good intentions is not the point.
The point is that county leadership has already told the public that perceived conflicts matter.
The Jim Thomson Center is a unique and valuable property that could contribute to the local tax base. Instead of being offered on the open market, it is being transferred between organizations whose leadership is closely connected. As a result, another property may remain off the tax rolls while taxpayers continue to carry the burden.
If overlapping roles were serious enough to justify removing one public official from a committee, why aren’t similar concerns receiving the same scrutiny here?
What are residents supposed to conclude other than that some conflicts are unacceptable while others are tolerated because they support the priorities of those in power?
Public trust depends on transparency, consistency, and equal treatment. People lose confidence when one standard appears to apply to some individuals and a different standard applies to others.
This is about more than one property or one public official. It is about whether Delaware County applies the same rules to everyone, regardless of political alignment or perceived loyalty.
The people of Delaware County deserve government that is transparent, accountable, and consistent. Multiple hats may be unavoidable in a small community.
Double standards are not.
Maya Boukai
Delhi Town Supervisor
