Greenport Trustee Speaks On Accusations By Mayor Of Owing $100K+

GREENPORT, NY — In a shocking development, Mary Bess Phillips, who has served on the board since 2009, has reportedly resigned from her position as deputy mayor of Greenport, the mayor said. But she has not resigned as trustee or from her candidacy for re-election, her attorney Abigail Field told Patch.

According to a letter from Greenport Village Mayor Kevin Steussi on the village website, on Thursday, he accepted Phillips' resignation as deputy mayor. He said he and the other trustees will be meeting to make a decision on the appointment of a new deputy mayor in the coming days.

Phillips sent out a statement to Patch: "Because Mayor Stuessi has apparently tried to influence Tuesday's election by publicizing, on the Friday before Election Day, the fact that my struggling businesses are significantly behind in their property taxes and electric bills and claiming that's why I resigned my position as deputy mayor, I must make this statement. It is true that I have resigned my appointment as deputy mayor. It is also true that a week before I resigned, the mayor told me that he didn't trust me with the village in his absence because of my businesses' indebtedness, and I told him he should have whoever he wants as deputy mayor; that's his prerogative."

She added: "But it is not true that I resigned because of my businesses' indebtedness. Indeed, I resigned nearly a week after that conversation. I resigned because I did not want to be deputy to a mayor I don't believe is currently acting in the best interests of the residential and business community in the village. Many know that as deputy, I often defended the mayor. I was no longer comfortable doing so."

And, said Phillips: "I have always believed that personal financial troubles are precisely that personal. The mayor set rumors flying about my financial situation and then made the topic public by speaking to the press. So here is what I am willing to share: The COVID shutdown in 2020 deeply damaged three of our family businesses, and the challenges of the fishing industry since have prevented my husband and I from enabling the businesses to fully recover. Two years ago, the village and I started negotiating a being-finalized payment plan involving lump sum payments and then monthly payments that I am expecting to sign contracts for before the end of next week. My husband and I look forward to bringing our businesses current on all bills as fast as possible, a goal we've never stopped working to achieve."

Phillips concluded: "In my many years of belonging to the Greenport community, I have known many others to struggle with their finances from time to time, including others in government. Indeed, Mayor Stuessi surely understands that even when people are working very hard, life can make it very difficult to pay key bills sometimes." She signed the letter, " Mary Bess Phillips, Village Trustee and Candidate for Re-election on Tuesday, March 18."

Steussi did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

"While I am disappointed in having to request and accept Trustee Phillips' resignation as deputy mayor, I felt it necessary after I became aware of significant indebtedness to the village, which in the aggregate exceeds $100,000 and has accumulated over many years and remains unpaid," Steussi wrote. "When I became aware, I immediately notified counsel to work directly with the treasurer to collect. The village continues to take steps towards obtaining payment for any amounts due."

Phillips participated in a candidate forum last week along with her fellow incumbent Trustee Julia Robins and newcomers Margaret De Cruz, Scott Hollid and Roric Tobin, who are vying for two open seats.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.