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Corfu sewer contractor reacts to anonymous letter threatening his business with the village

By Howard B. Owens

More controversy in Corfu today has put the owner of a sewer facility management company in the unusual position of defending his employee's free speech rights.

Kenneth G. Scherrieble, president of the Camden Group, received an unsigned letter that threatened to seek a termination of his company's contract with the Village of Corfu unless one of his employees stops speaking at public meetings.

Camden manages Corfu's wastewater treatment facility and former trustee Al Graham is a Camden manager.

"While Al Grahm (sic) attends board meetings and railroads village business and spews negativity about certain board members," the letter says, "I will consider this brash situation of a huge conflict of business between your company and I will look to generate interest to replace your company. I don't believe that is good business for you or your company!"

In response, Scherrieble fired off a letter today to the trustees that defends Graham's right to participate as a village resident in village discussions.

"I will not be threatened by anyone," Scherrieble writes. "If I lose the Village of Corfu contract because one of my employees exercised their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, then so be it. But that will be a truly sad day for the Village and for America."

In his letter, Scherrieble notes that Graham's son served in Iraq and Afghanistan and his own son is entering the Marines.

"Why do these young men put their lives at risk?" he writes. "Because they believe in the rights guaranteed to them as a Citizen of this Country. They believe that United States Constitution is a sacred document, and that the tenants within, those Rights given to all Citizens of this Country are worth laying their lives down for. "

There is a regular village board meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Lisa Falkowski

This is a no brainer! Why have they not impeached the Mayor? He's overpaid and not trained (not trained by his own admittance and seems to be in no hurry to take training). The mud slinging is ugly. Employee, resident, whatever - if Mr. Graham and his family are dedicated, loyal, committed community members, they have every right to be at meetings and express opinions. That's what it's all about - concern citizens. The Village Offices need to add on a Daycare for the adults that don't act their age! Come on...this is a great little Village. Stop being so silly.

Apr 22, 2013, 1:53pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

The only thing missing in the Corfu saga is the 'Who is sleeping with who's wife attack.' With that Corfu could bid to be the next Peyton Place and their financial woes would be over because of movie residuals.

I certainly hope that the voters in the village do a little better than the 20% turn out they did in the last election.

Apr 22, 2013, 2:11pm Permalink
Irene Will

An unsigned letter - therefore anyonymous letter - isn't worth the paper it's written on. If you don't have nerve enough to SIGN your NAME, then whatever you've got to say just doesn't matter.

Apr 22, 2013, 3:59pm Permalink
Al Graham

Just to clairify a little. I do not have a bad taste in my mouth about the election results. My issue has been and always will be Mr Petersons inability to tell the residents the truth. He lied to several people about the cost of the upcoming sewer project during his run for Mayor. He lied about a conflict of interest that he knew was well documented to not be the case on his run for mayor. Mr peterson did not start this kind of actions when he became mayor, Read earlier item on here about the things he lied about and dirty action he did while trustee. I think Howard can attest to the fact that i do not 'highjack" meetings or "spew slander" I set for the most part and wait for Mr Peterson to lie or mislead the residents and then i call him out for it and tell the truth about what is being talked about. I might add that i can prove everything i speek about so COCERNED CITIZEN should look up the word slander. The letter never says anything about how Camden Group is running the treatment plant, no complaint about the job we do there. Just that its employees should not be allowed to speak at OUR public meetings. So Mr Peterson TELL THE TRUTH and I wont have much to say

Apr 22, 2013, 5:09pm Permalink
Al Graham

Jenny you will not find one person that knows me that can truthfully say thaat they have ever heard me tell one off color joke ,call Mr Peterson any off color names or anything of the sort. This is not about the color of the person but about the person him self. But in the interest of truth lets let everyone know that your Bob Alexanders daughter.

Apr 22, 2013, 6:04pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

If there was even a hint of racism, I wouldn't ignore it. It's one thing I won't stand for. There is nothing, from my observation, that can be attributed to race.

In fact, Peterson's biggest critics were friends with him before these issues arose and all still say positive things about him as a person. They just don't like the way he's conducted himself since the allegations against Robert Alexander and Brandi Watts came to light.

Apr 22, 2013, 6:12pm Permalink
John Roach

I doubt this has anything to do with race. That almost all white village elected him. First as a trustee then mayor, so that whole line is a bit lame.

It just might be that he's just not all that good at being in charge.

Apr 22, 2013, 6:13pm Permalink
Kyle Slocum

Jenny, it is hard to argue that race is the issue when substantive arguments are being made about how prepared the mayor is for his job and that there are problems within the village administration that need to be addressed. He admits he needs training and, regardless of that, he was elected by the majority of voters in "a predominantly white village" to do the best job he can.

If you assume that the reason a person is having difficulties is solely because of a physical characteristic beyond their control, you limit them and deny them the dignity of self-reflection and growth. What does race have to do with his abilities or potential?

Mayor Peterson will succeed or fail on the basis of his actions, character and judgment, not because of anything else. To make the claim that anything else will be the reason for his success or failure is to insult him and deny him the dignity of being an adult.

Besides, this article is about an anonymous writer trying to coerce an employer into using his position as an employer to infringe upon an employee's First Amendment Rights. This is despicable and loathsome. Sort of like trying to silence debate by alleging prejudice as the only reason anyone could question the actions and decisions of a politician.

Apr 22, 2013, 6:29pm Permalink
jenny warner

Good job Mr investigater, maybe the fact that I said my sister is the ex clerk helped you out. Good thing you are a club member John besides the free hat you can have Howard support your every tabloid news piece. Mr. Graham probably got a tshirt...and a hat just for submitting juicy articles.

Apr 22, 2013, 6:32pm Permalink
Lisa Falkowski

My bad (re: impeachment). I thought I'd read the term somewhere in all of this. Mr. Peterson needs training or to step down. I see some good people here (including Mr. Peterson) trying real hard to work through this, but there is one flub after another. Maybe the slate (and Mayor-ship..?) needs to be wiped clean.

Apr 22, 2013, 7:21pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

You pretty much wiped out your creditably with your last couple of post Jenny. If you want to win hearts and minds so to speak, or a least make a case for your sister and the Mayor, perhaps you should switch back to something factual, rather than accusations of racism and blatant attempts to insult those who may not agree with you

Apr 22, 2013, 7:22pm Permalink
John Roach

Jenny,
The fact that you were looking for an unsupportable excuse for all this was sad. Just the fact that the Mr. Patterson was elected by all that "predominately white village", twice, should have been enough to wake you up that race is not the issue..

And I missed that free hat and Howard certainly does not agree with all the time.

Apr 22, 2013, 8:30pm Permalink
robin neyman

Instead of starting more trouble, why don't you try to fix the mess you already started!!!! This is getting ridiculous to say the least!!!! Put the blame where it really belongs!!!!! Leave the people alone who really care about the place they live!!!! This is obviously not a decent human being thats for sure!!!!!!

Apr 22, 2013, 9:58pm Permalink
Daniel Jones

Corfu is so horribly dysfunctional that it's surreal, it's what happens when local government is run like Lord of the Flies. It is the poster-child for everything that can go wrong with local government. It's simply...remarkable. It's citizens are rightfully outraged, I would be too.

Apr 23, 2013, 1:17am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Ha Daniel I didnt play it this time so no Benny Hill dreams :P... Kyle I have to agree with Dave, good job vetting the race comment made by Jenny Warner. As for Jenny Warner, she as all people are welcome to offer opinions, but today she made clear her bias to all this all this negative attention her father has been getting. If she truly wants to see "ignorance being promoted" look to comment #8 Her opinion on anything to do with thi Corfu Village drama has absolutely no credibility anymore, but is really is enlightening to her father's behavior between sneaky emails and manipulating the village. I hope for his sake the money missing is eventually found, because if it isnt then the only reason for all these shenanigans is guilt..... Ok Daniel cue Yakety Sax again LOL

Apr 23, 2013, 3:57am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

I guess Jenny decided deletion of her comments that this was racially based was the best course. Unfortuneatly I know that alot of people already saw it posted and it wont help mend her credibility at all. But way to stand behind your convictions Jenny.....

Apr 23, 2013, 8:53am Permalink

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