Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex in the town of Cortlandville. (Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).
Political ads in support of a slate of candidates who ran to represent Cortlandville this past November were the subject of controversy at Wednesday’s town board meeting.
Bob Martin, a resident of Cortlandville, brought up the presence of the advertisements at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex of Congressman-elect Marc Molinaro, New York State Senate candidate Rich David, and gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin. The billboard is managed by Park Outdoor Advertising, an Ithaca-based company.
“On Nov. 22, I contacted Paul Simonet who was your contact with Park Outdoor Advertising. I got a rejection on that email, and I finally did get a response back from (Park Outdoor Advertising Vice President of Leasing and Development) Stephen Frank on Nov. 30,” Martin said.
He noted Frank confirmed the billboards ran from Oct. 7 through Oct. 30 at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex. Martin added that two years ago, town attorney John DelVecchio said the town did not want to see political advertisements on that billboard. DelVecchio, according to Martin, suggested adding a clause disallowing the company certain advertisements to the lease agreement.
“In addition, the New York State Senate passed bill S4539B on Feb. 5, 2021, prohibiting campaign materials supporting candidates running for office on government-owned buildings and properties,” he said. “Was the town in violation of the state law, is Park Outdoor Advertising in violation of the contract, or are we just being unethical?”
DelVecchio responded to Martin, noting that Simonet had retired at the time, leading to confusion with the advertising firm.
“After Mr. Frank looked into that situation, he indicated to me that that was an oversight from Park Outdoor. The town had nothing to do with the advertisements,” DelVecchio said. “I don’t even think anybody was aware that those advertisements ran on that billboard. But the town was certainly not at fault. Park Outdoor has given me assurances that that will not happen again.”
Town Supervisor Tom Williams also clarified that prohibiting certain advertisements was not part of a contract or a town board resolution.
“It was a memo of understanding, sort of a third piece of paper that passed down the trail on this,” Williams added. “So it wasn’t like it was, as I say, in the contract that somebody taking over a new position might read. It was, as I said, an addendum in a memo of understanding.”
