Genoans sign petition to show support for manager

Genoans are passing around a petition to show their support for Town Manager Tom Peters, who is officially leaving his post today.

Peters is the third town manager including Paul Williams, who resigned April 2005 and Mike Brown who left in January of this year.

Genoan Les Kynett said residents plan to present the petition to town board members at their regular meeting on Tuesday.

"Residents are signing a petition that says what a great job Tom Peters has done," Kynett said. "Ninety percent of the people cannot believe we are losing our third town manager in 20 months. It's strange that we have well-qualified people and we can't hold them."

Kynett said resident Steve Morton will present the petition on Tuesday during the public comment portion of the agenda.

"Tom has been one of the best town managers and he did a remarkable job," Kynett said. "We just want to show the town board and the county that we support him. We want to make it part of the official record."

Kynett expressed concern that the county may have concerns about continuing to advertise and recruit new town managers.

"The cost of advertising and recruiting is not inexpensive today," he said. "I'm totally amazed they lost Mike Brown because he comes from a tough law enforcement background. This should be a fun job."

Kynett said Peters did a lot of good as town manager while he was there.

"He lives in the community and he just wanted to make things better," Kynett said. "In most people's view, he did. I'm awestruck that this happened. The least we can do is have a petition drive to support Tom and tell the county this is not mandated by the will of the people."

Kynett said the petitions are still out, so he doesn't have the number of signatures, but he said the number could hit a couple of hundred.

"There are only 251 people in town," he said.

The Genoa Town Board meets 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Town Meeting Room on Main Street.

If you go

What: Genoa Town Board

Where: Town Meeting Room, 2289 Main St.

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday