Editorial: Time for Council Suspension to End

It’s time for the town and Francine Giono-Janik to come together to do what needs to be done to allow her to return from her suspension from the Whitehall Town Council.

Janik was elected to serve the residents of Whitehall and she should be allowed to do that. It is true that Janik did walk out of a meeting, but that doesn’t warrant this long of a suspension. If she has been reluctant to meet with the town to discuss her return, than it is time that takes place if it hasn’t happened prior to this editorial. This means both sides need to come together, not just one willing to mend this issue.

Janik left during a meeting while a discussion about ambulance issues was taking place. Whatever took place with ambulance issues in the past, it is time to move forward. Council members will not always see eye to eye, but bickering about ambulance issues needs to stop and stop now.

The town no longer has an ambulance service so it is pointless to go on and on about issues OF THE PAST. Government is not a place to hold grudges or make decisions based on emotion. Town Attorney Ed Guza said at a meeting last week her seat is not vacant, so this is the perfect time to get her back on the Council. A year is a long time, and the people of Whitehall deserve a full Council to make decisions whether they agree with them or not. We are not picking a horse in this race, but at the end of the day if everyone just wants what is best for Whitehall -- this is something that should happen.