The Village Shuffle

When East Hampton Village Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr. abruptly demoted Barbara Borsack on July 5 from the position of deputy mayor in favor of a relative newcomer to the board, Village Hall’s normally decorous atmosphere was rattled. Calling the move a cabinet shuffle, the mayor declined to elaborate on his decision. 

Credit Ms. Borsack, who had held the post for 16 years, for greeting the news with aplomb. Not as much can be said charitably about Mr. Rickenbach. Asked for additional comment, all he would say was, “I would just tell you what I said. We’ll leave it at that.”

The bottom line is that if Ms. Borsack was the right person to be next in line should something happen to the mayor for all of those 16 years, she was the right person to stay on in the role.

Mr. Rickenbach’s blunt non-explanation was dismissive of the public interest. He is 80, and had said this would be his last term in office. We are not alone in suspecting that he wanted to position his chosen successor, Bruce Siska, who took over the deputy mayor title. 

Though the village has been run well in recent years, and although only a tiny number of residents bother to vote in village board elections, that does not excuse the way in which Mr. Rickenbach handled the matter. At the very least, Ms. Borsack deserves an apology — and village residents deserve a full explanation.