Letters

The Express reported assertions that there was a “personality clash” between me and Chief A.J. McGuire [“As End of Term Draws Near, Sag Harbor Mayor Raises Objections Over Police Chief Contract,” 27east.com, June 28].

My issues with the chief bear on performance and behavioral matters, and on compensation. Period. I make no apology for demanding exemplary behavior from our police chief, and for striving to keep his compensation in a fair and reasonable range.

Dating back to 2021, Chief McGuire has steadfastly refused to acknowledge or correct issues of performance and personal behavior raised by the mayor, trustees, the village police commissioner, labor counsel, and occasional members of the public — issues that threaten damage to his reputation and that of Village Hall, and outshine his otherwise satisfactory record.

The mayor and trustees, acting unanimously on the recommendation of labor counsel, issued McGuire a “counseling letter” related to one aspect of his unsatisfactory personal behavior. The chief has never acknowledged receipt, nor did he commit to correcting the troublesome behavior.

There are other highly sensitive issues that bear on this dispute, but mostly do not come to public notice because of our policy of protecting our personnel in matters with a private component. Consistent with that policy, I will not go into detail here.

But Chief McGuire’s inappropriate behavior caused significant disruption in Village Hall to the point where the clerk/administrator required advance notice of his presence in village offices, and, regretfully, contributed to a rupture of comity and good will among the board. These matters clouded our consideration of compensation, which remains unresolved.

Chief McGuire has nevertheless demanded base pay and additional compensation unjustifiably and unconscionably high. His ultimate cash payout for accruals and deferrals at retirement could total hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It was my aim to bring the package back down to earth. In this small village, where taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet, and where their grown children cannot afford to live, the chief’s relentless high compensation demands demonstrate an extraordinary insensitivity to the practical financial realities facing most Sag Harbor residents. These are the people who form the heart of this community, and whose taxes fund the chief’s compensation.

Perhaps if our police chief actually lived in this village, and paid taxes here, he would understand that his demands are simply too high, especially given the problems that have surrounded his service and his refusal to address them.

It is apparent that the next village administration and board will enter a contract with Chief McGuire. It is my sincerest hope on my last day as mayor that he will moderate his demands and that the new administration will insist that Chief McGuire take steps to improve his personal and professional conduct.

The good people of Sag Harbor Village deserve nothing less.

Jim Larocca

Mayor

Sag Harbor Village

Larocca’s term as mayor ended this week — Ed.