Controversial Essex code officer to step down at the end of the year

ESSEX | After a meeting that lasted nearly six hours, the Essex Town Board accepted the resignation of Code Officer Jay White, who had polarized the town with a by-the-book approach that residents said was ruining the community's reputation for friendliness. White, who said he was doing the job as the law required him to do it, offered his resignation to the board, and will leave his position at the end of the year. He will work with a board liaison in the meantime, who will help foster better relations with the community. More than 70 people attended or patched into the town board meeting Thursday to vent against White, who they said has divided the town with his intimidating manner and aggressive approach to the job. But White did not back down, saying that the law demands he strictly enforce building and zoning codes and that to do otherwise is to jeopardize public safety and open the town to accusations of favoritism and discrimination. The meeting had some tense exchanges, including an angry reproach by Essex resident and former Gov. George Pataki, who said "what this is about is an abuse of power." The situation came to a head when Chrystal and Tony Axelsson and their six children went looking for a tent to live in after White determined that a previously forlorn house they had been renovating on Jersey Street was a safety risk. Although the facts are disputed — neither side is elaborating pending a court hearing — the case became a social media cause célèbre because there was already plenty of dry tinder piled up by previous run-ins between White and town residents. "This is not the town we know, and this is not the town we want," said Libby Pataki, who said the tougher enforcement, which has included two summons to appear before a judge, has served to "criminalize the population." Residents said they like to think of Essex as an oasis that's free of polarization, but that anger has escalated since White's hiring. "In the big sense, we're better than this," said Karen Dalton. "I wish we could take a breath here and think about what we're doing — we're in a very destructive mode." Julia Starkey, a wedding photographer whose husband Cole owns Sawteeth Carpentry, said her husband was shaken when a sheriff's deputy showed up to serve papers for a court appearance, and the abrasive approach has the potential to stunt a flush of young people trying to put down roots in the town. "Instead of being extended a helping hand, we're getting knives in the back," she said. White said he was hired by the town in December with the understanding that the old system of uneven enforcement had to change. He said zoning and building laws are especially important in the lakefront town, which owes much to history and the environment. "Selective enforcement leads to inequality and discrimination, and that itself creates a huge division in the community," he said. "It is my sincere desire to make sure the people in this community are safe … no matter how hated I am for it, that is my commitment." Board member Claire LaPine, though, said it's possible to do the job without generating anger. "I don't want people to be unsafe, but I don't want people to be intimidated either," she said. "I care about people being treated decently, and it's my impression that (White) comes across as an intimidating person." After both sides had had their say, the board met for 90 minutes in a closed session, part of which included White. Supervisor Ken Hughes said White had done good work evenly enforcing the law, but had become a "lightning rod" in the community, and "if we feel we are employing someone who is creating deep divisions, it's our responsibility to analyze the situation and make a decision that's in the best interest of the town."

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Controversial Essex code officer to step down at the end of the year

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