Gibbs steps back from city council for career move

PLATTSBURGH | The City of Plattsburgh Common Council bid farewell on June 18 to City Councilor Elizabeth Gibbs, who tendered her resignation to Mayor Wendell Hughes to pursue career advancement goals. "I'm resigning as city councilor for Ward 3, and I just wanted to thank everybody over the years for your support," she said at the meeting. "And thank the city managers, the department heads that I've worked with, I've really enjoyed working with you all." Gibbs, an educator, said exciting career opportunities came about in the last couple of months. "And they were not available last year when I was campaigning." Gibbs won reelection last November for a three-year term. Gibbs is an Advanced Placement (AP) instructor and AP reader for the educational testing service. "I really want to work more toward these opportunities of curriculum development, assessment development to help other teachers and help children across the country," she said. Mayor Hughes thanked Gibbs for everything she's done for the City of Plattsburgh. "I hate to see you leave," he said, "I'm happy for you, but it's still not too late to change your mind." In an email to The Sun, Gibbs shared highlights of leadership that she enjoyed most. "In the seven years I've been in office, I have been the chair of the public safety committee during the COVID pandemic; been involved in police reform; collaborated with SUNY Plattsburgh and the Clinton County Health Department regarding food waste and reduction in the city; been a champion for the Climate Smart Task Force and the various green initiatives that can be accomplished; passed the electric vehicle policy and the food waste reduction policy in the city; resurrected and saved the Saranac River Trail Phase 2 project; saved the city from purchasing the Plattsburgh Boat Basin for $8 million (which sold for $5.8 million); saved the city from selling municipal land to build a hotel near the sewage treatment plant and entering into an agreement with a questionable partner (Skyward had to sell the [Saranac Waterfront Lodge in Saranac Lake] hotel back to the bank because they were not successful, even though they took millions of public monies to build that hotel), to name a few. I have been a voice for fiscal responsibility and forward-thinking in the City." Gibbs was referring to the city Common Council vote against development last year at Harborside with a project brought forward by Skyward Hospitality, founded by CEO Jacob Wright, who was an organizational consultant with Saranac Waterfront Lodge development on Lake Flower in Saranac Lake. The 91-room hotel was returned to the bank last July by Saranac Lake Resort Owner LLC, from owners Leland "Lee" Pillsbury and Mark Pacala. Skyward Hospitality was named hotel manager on Green Bank transactions and Wright was named managing partner early in project development. The hotel was purchased last July by the Branch Hospitality Group, based in Malone, with five local partners, including members of the Monette family who own Titus Mountain Ski Area. The Sun asked if Gibbs would encourage residents to consider serving in local government, and she said absolutely. "To anyone interested in running for office, my answer would be absolutely yes! Holding political office is an excellent opportunity to serve the public and understand how things get done. We need more good, qualified people to run for office. The Plattsburgh City School District had eight people running for three open spots. We need that kind of interest in city government," she said. Mayor Hughes is expected to appoint an interim Ward 3 councilor within 30 days, but that person would have to seek election later this year. Candidates interested in running for the seat can petition to be on the ballot for Election Day, Nov. 4.

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Gibbs steps back from city council for career move

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