At a Vergennes City Council meeting last week, Mayor Lynn Donnelly alleged corruption and financial problems in the city government after announcing that she plans to leave office at the end of her term in March.
“If you had any idea of the corruption that has happened in this city, and no one would stand up to it except me, you guys don’t have a clue. The city is in a mess,” she said. “The financial mess is going to be somebody else’s problem. But when this all collapses around you, I want you to look around at each other and remember who was here.”
Donnelly did not elaborate further on the allegations and declined a request for comment.
Her decision on Tuesday came after a series of discussions over whether she should return to her seat on city council to finish a two-year term after she steps down as mayor in the upcoming election. She declined to continue serving the city in any capacity.
Donnelly assumed the role of mayor last July, when then-mayor Jeff Fritz resigned. In a statement, Donnelly thanked residents who have supported her and apologized for leaving.
“I cannot continue this badgering all the time. It’s not worth it,” she said.
In an email to Donnelly Wednesday evening, Vergennes resident Abby Blum requested that the mayor explain her accusations of corruption at the Jan. 26 city council meeting.
“Mayor Donnelly, what evidence do you have of this corruption? If there is valid evidence, this is an issue the council should address immediately,” Blum wrote.
Blum conveyed her sympathy to Donnelly, acknowledging the difficulties of being an elected official and the different standard to which she believes female leaders are held, but she emphasized the importance of accountability and trust.
Alderman Dickie Austin told VTDigger he does not have further information on the financial issues or corruption Donnelly referred to, but said he would certainly be interested in following up.
“Given what’s happened in Vergennes in the last six months and what’s happening nationally, it’s even more critical for residents to feel confident in their elected leaders,” said Vergennes resident Zoe Kaslow, who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting.
On Thursday morning, Alderman Mel Hawley came to Donnelly’s defense in an email response to Blum.
“It does not surprise me that you and others are continuing your attack on Acting Mayor Lynn Donnelly,” Hawley wrote. He went on to clarify that Donnelly’s claims of corruption referred to past events, including an alleged conspiracy between former Mayor Jeff Fritz, Sheriff Pete Newton and an unnamed alderman to file a false report with the Attorney General’s office against Police Chief George Merkel.
Attorney General TJ Donovan investigated allegations of fraudulent conduct against Merkel last August and concluded the accusation could not be substantiated.
“It is an email like yours that erodes trust in our city government and further divides the community. Shame on you. When will this stop?” Hawley wrote.
The issue of Donnelly’s term resurfaced at the meeting when Alderman Hawley proposed that city council commit to a warning calling for the election of two aldermen, rather than three, this March, as Donnelly would be returning to finish the second year of her elected term.
Two other board members, Austin and Jill Murray-Killon, disagreed, arguing that Donnelly should not return for a second year. Austin said her vacant seat had been filled in a special election held last September while she was serving as mayor, and asked Donnelly to instead run in March for one of the open positions.
“My opposition has nothing to do with the fact that it’s Mayor Donnelly,” Austin told VTDigger. “She obviously cares deeply about Vergennes. She’s incredibly passionate about our hometown and I appreciate that.” Austin simply felt Donnelly ending her term in March would be in line with established precedent.
Murray-Killon added that, had there been concerns over vacant positions, September would have been the time to bring them up.
“In signing the special election notice in August announcing available positions and associated terms for the September election, Mayor Donnelly was giving her stamp of approval to those positions and I’m disappointed to see her reverse course on that,” Kaslow said on Tuesday evening.
“Our aldermen have hard roles, and I appreciate the care they bring to our community. I also believe in asking important questions and asking our leaders to be accountable for their actions,” Kaslow told VTDigger.
In response to the comments, Donnelly explained she had received calls from many constituents asking her to stay on the council, and had felt that doing so would have been in the city’s best interest.
“I have lived in this city my whole life. I have worked in this city my whole life. I have given more than anybody could possibly give of my time,” she said.
Hawley withdrew his motion later in the meeting, in light of Donnelly’s statement.
Austin was disappointed that Tuesday’s discussion was perceived as a personal attack.
“The possibility of this furthering a perceived divide in our community is unfortunate,” he said. “I had really hoped that, with some review, this wouldn’t become an issue and [Mayor Donnelly] would run for an alderman seat in March.”
The council will have to address Donnelly’s allegations and the issue of the number of alderman vacancies in the March election at its next meeting, Austin said.