“I am interested in having a discussion in public, if allowable, about the Mayor’s change in process and procedure of holding in-person interviews of prospective new hires into our police force.”

— Council Member Paloma Wake

City of Beacon Council Member Paloma Wake has been asking for more public transparency in the appointments and hires of public servants for the City of Beacon. In the 11/18/2024 City Council Meeting, she requested for a second look at the process and procedure of holding in-person interviews of prospective new hires into Beacon’s police force. She also requested public review of the 3rd vacancy on the City Council within a year.

Of the police hires, Council Member Paloma said: “I do not have any objection to the 3 detective appointments on the agenda for tonight. They are internal transfers with positive records within our police force. However, I am interested in having a discussion in public, if allowable, about the Mayor's change in process and procedure of holding in-person interviews of prospective new hires into our police force."

It is not clear what the “change in process and procedure” is “of holding in-person interviews of prospective new hires into the police force.” Discussion about new hires or fires happens off-camera of the public City Council Meeting, in something called Executive Session. If the discussion of procedure about these happened in Executive Session, it is possible the public did not learn about it. A Little Beacon Blog emailed Council Member Paloma for clarification, but has not received a response.

“[I want to] announce that we have a potential impending vacancy for the Ward 4 position. I reiterate what I asked for a year ago when we came up with similar vacancy through the resignation of Wren Longo.”

— Council Member Paloma Wake

Regarding the vacancy of Council Member for Ward 4 after Dan Aymar-Blair ran for Dutchess County Comptroller and looked to be winning by a slim lead after he filed a lawsuit to delay the declaration of winning until absentee ballots were counted, Council Member Paloma said:

“[I want to] announce that we have a potential impending vacancy for the Ward 4 position. I reiterate what I asked for a year ago when we came up with similar vacancy through the resignation of Wren Longo.”

The Vacancy After The Resignation Of Wren Longo

Before Wren’s resignation, word circulated on the street about it, but it never made it to a public announcement. After Wren resigned, Mayor Lee Kyriacou announced that he would be shifting the person who ran for the At Large position - Pam Weatherbee - to replace Wren in Ward 3, as Pam also lived within Ward 3.

With the newly open At Large seat that then needed filled, Mayor Lee stated that he then begged former Council Member Amber Grant to come out of Council retirement to fill Pam’s newly earned but quickly vacated seat of At Large. This, all done within a Council and Mayoral race where all contestants ran unopposed. This made a free-for-all for the Beacon Democrats, and freedom for Mayor Lee to appoint whoever he wanted, with approval of the City Council.

“Dan’s body isn’t even cold yet. Come on. We will get there when we get there.”

— Mayor Lee Kyriacou's response to Council Person Paloma Wake's request for applicants to Ward 4 seat, and public review of those applicants.

Meanwhile, two other candidates had been running at the time, and could have been considered for the At Large position: La Star Gorton for Ward 1, and Reuben Simmons (who entered the Mayoral race one week before voting, and won 16% of the vote as a write-in, which is unusually high).

When Council Member Paloma requested a more open process, she stated: “I recognize that the City Charter gives the Mayor power of appointment with consent of Council. I would ask for my consent to personally be given that there be a process that is public that is inspired by how the school board handles vacancies. Though I'm aware that the school board have their own charter. And official public notice be given. For a period of time - I would propose 30 days - that application notice be given and applications for anyone interested be sent to the Mayor's office and also encourage that process to provide an opportunity to speak directly to the public about why they want to serve. Submit those ideas to Council's consideration most importantly the Mayor's discretion.”

Mayor Lee responded to Council Member Paloma with: “Dan's body isn't even cold yet. Come on. We will get there when we get there.”