Smithtown Ethics Board James Lamb Joanne Gray FixSmithtown.com Jay Beatty

Lamb Baaaaa-cks Off Ethics Complaint

Writes of ‘Little Confidence’ in Ethics Board or Town Officials

By Jay Beatty

August 23, 2007

SMITHTOWN, NY -- Despite earlier talk of “intimidation,” private investigator and entrepreneur James Lamb, more recently of “FixSmithtown.com” notoriety, has withdrawn his July 28 ethics complaint to focus renewed efforts on gaining Town action to repair curbs – and because of “little confidence” in the Smithtown Ethics Board.

In a letter dated July 28, Lamb complained about a telephone message from Councilwoman Joanne Gray. “As a result of Ms. Gray’s call,” Lamb wrote, “I felt as though this Town Official’s intent was to intimidate and coerce me in order to make me cease my petition campaign activities under implied threat of possible loss of employment. Although I am not actually in jeopardy of losing my job over the petition because I am self employed, Ms. Gray was probably not aware of this. I have experienced apprehension over whether the Councilwoman intends to interfere with one or more of my lawful business activities because I have commenced the petition.”

In rescinding his complaint on August 18, 2007, Lamb was short and to the point: “Dear Smithtown Ethics Board: This is to advise you that I have decided to withdraw my complaint against Councilwoman Gray. Thank you. Sincerely, (signed) JAMES P. LAMB.”

In his statement to the press, however, Lamb was more expansive. “In deciding to withdraw my complaint against Councilwoman Gray, I have not spoken with Ms. Gray, her representative, or anyone else on the Ethics Board regarding this matter. Although I have not changed my position that it was reasonable to perceive the Gray voicemail message as inappropriate and coercive since she did not offer assistance and was totally focused on how I might experience “problems” as a result of the petition, there is some question as to what her actual intent was.

Telephone Controversy

An earlier article by SuffolkJournal.com outlined Lamb’s reaction to a telephone message left by Councilwoman Gray in response to a mailing regarding Lamb’s “FixSmithtown.com” website and online petition. A transcript of the message appears on Lamb’s website (www.fixsmithtown.com) along with a telephone number for those who wish to hear the taped message for themselves.

“A voice mail was left on my machine which appeared very intimidating in tone and content,’ declared Lamb in an interview reported earlier this month. “There was no offer of assistance. I don’t know Ms. Gray and I have no personal problem with Ms. Gray.”

“I was expecting a call from officials asking me ‘How can I help?’ That’s not what I got,” said Lamb. For her part, Gray maintains that her call was straightforward and non-threatening. “I received a flyer from a well-intentioned James Lamb at my Town Hall office concerning curb repair. The e-mail address on the flyer was ‘james@DOTauthority.com,’ explained Councilwoman Gray at the time. “My offer of advice to Mr. Lamb was simply my observation that his e-mail address might give the impression of a business or governmental entity,” she noted.

Lamb is president of DOTauthority.com, a consulting firm doing business with the motor carrier industry. The company’s website www.DOTauthority.com carries a disclaimer on its home page to note that it “is not the Department of Transportation.” Lamb tried to deflect question about the disclaimer and the potential for confusion, an ambiguity which Gray claimed was the reference she was making on the phone.

In putting the call controversy aside, Lamb said in his statement: “Nonetheless, I think I have made my point that Town Officials should be more helpful in general and more careful how they communicate with residents who are in need of the Town’s assistance in getting problems resolved.”

He made it clear, however, that he intends to press his “FixSmithtown” issues, as he expanded his criticism of Town government in general to the failures of the Ethics Board in particular.

Part of the Problem

“In addition, and based on recent reports concerning the Ethics Board’s past activities and refusal to release information in apparent violation of state law, I am not so sure the Ethics Board isn’t part of the overall problem in Smithtown Government that needs to be fixed,” Lamb’s statement declared.

“ Given the previous controversial Ethics Board decision concerning Ms. Gray, I have little confidence in the Board’s ability to investigate this matter fairly and impartially without practicing politics. Simply stated, I do not wish to be a pawn in the political game of chess that Smithtown’s politicians are currently engaged in. They need to stop this nonsense and tend to the business of governing and delivering services to residents,” he added.

After Lamb withdrew his complaint, Gray waste no time in sending her own memorandum to the Ethics Board and her Town Board colleagues, recommending that the Ethics Board be disbanded.

“The presently constituted Ethics Board operates with an uneven hand. Terminate them or just disband this Board which is an entity designed to smear people who get on the wrong side of someone’s political angels,’ wrote Gray.

Lamb concluded his statement by expressing little confidence of his own in town officials. “...the Town Highway Department recently stated they scheduled a repair for me ‘this season.’ Let this be a warning to the Town that I reserve the right to zealously press charges against any Town official if I believe there is even the slightest evidence that he or she is intentionally withholding repair services in retaliation for my complaint, the fixsmithtown.com website or the online petition. I will not tolerate such behavior.”

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