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Woodside mayor recommends no action by Town Council on ethics investigation

Original post made on Feb 6, 2017

Woodside Mayor Tom Livermore said Friday he will recommend that the Town Council take "no further action" on a complaint alleging that Nancy Reyering as a member of the town's Architectural and Site Review Board wrote an email in May 2016 that violated the town's code of ethics.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, February 6, 2017, 11:26 AM

Comments (11)

Posted by Confused
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Feb 6, 2017 at 11:45 am

Wait, do I have this right? A City Council member was involved in a project coming before the City Council -- in other words, he has a conflict of interest? And when a member of the public points this out, she's the one being accused of ethics violations?

What the heck is going on in Woodside?


Posted by John
a resident of Woodside: Mountain Home Road
on Feb 6, 2017 at 12:32 pm

Sounds like they just wanted her to go away. Which is the right outcome.

Shame it took this much effort and outcry to effectuate change.


Posted by ASRB Victim
a resident of Woodside: Skywood/Skylonda
on Feb 6, 2017 at 12:48 pm

Reyering continues with her innuendo of others violating the town's volunteer ethics policies, but never manages to say specifically what the others did. She should do exactly what was done to her: file a formal complaint.

Nancy: it's time to put up or shut up.


Posted by Rick
a resident of Woodside: Family Farm/Hidden Valley
on Feb 6, 2017 at 12:57 pm

Confused: I might have my details wrong, but Ms Reyering's letter was concerning a project being considered by the ASRB, it the Council. And due to a debilitating medical problem at the time the project was to be considered, Ms Reyering was not going to be able to attend, but wanted to convey her concerns to the Board and Town Staff. And since she wasn't going to be able to vote on the project, claiming she had reached a 'premature' decision is rather silly.


Posted by ASRB Victim
a resident of Woodside: Skywood/Skylonda
on Feb 6, 2017 at 1:09 pm

Rick (and "confused"). --

Read the report: Web Link

As you can see, the situation was not at all as you have described it.

What we really need now, to achieve any kind of closure on this mess, is for Nancy to cite specifics in a complaint to the town so that what she claims was the real problem can be investigated. That's what she should have done in the first place.


Posted by concerned for the environment
a resident of another community
on Feb 6, 2017 at 1:10 pm

Just read Livermore’s “thanks”. Saying she’s a champion of open space and
wildlife habitat is like “She’s tall!” True, but her service to Woodside
included being a clear public voice supporting the General Plan and
Residential Design Guidelines.

All online anonymous detractors of Reyering are foes of the town’s VERY REASON
FOR BEING!


Posted by pogo
a resident of Woodside: other
on Feb 6, 2017 at 2:29 pm

pogo is a registered user.

ASRB Victim is spot on. The evidence of wrongdoing is beyond the pale. Read the report: Web Link

An independent investigator determined Reyering had committed five violations of Woodside's ethics code including coming to conclusions before an applicant had the opportunity to present their project and attempting to influence other ASRB members prior to their meeting. Citizens, property owners and applicants are entitled to a fair process where they can present their project, have it judged on the merits, and have open deliberations in public. These due process safeguards were ignored and, according to the report, ignored repeatedly.

Reyering also inappropriately contacted witnesses prior to and during the investigation. Those contacted by her said they felt pressured by her to conform to her story. Nice.

We should be grateful that Mayor Livermore brought this matter to a conclusion. I implore the Town Council to get control of their ASRB.


Posted by Joe
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Feb 6, 2017 at 4:27 pm

It's vaguely sickening to encounter people willing to countenance the possibility of corruption in their local government and look away, to be complicit in allowing conflicts of interest to pass unchecked and uncommented upon because maybe it will be them in need of a special favor some day.

Rules? Concern about even perceptions of corruption? They're for suckers.

Ugh. The smell.


Posted by John
a resident of Woodside: Mountain Home Road
on Feb 6, 2017 at 4:39 pm

Funny that "concerned for the environment" blasts Reyering's anonymous detractors... while remaining anonymous!

Citizens don't feel comfortable publicly stating their identities because they're afraid of the ASRB holding grudges and retaliating in the future.

Which we should be, given the ASRB history!


Posted by Menlo Voter.
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Feb 6, 2017 at 6:51 pm

Menlo Voter. is a registered user.

Those of you supporting Reyering:

read the complaints about her. Read the investigative report. She needs to go. She's victimized her fellow Woodside residents for far too long.


Posted by Retired Realtor
a resident of Woodside: Mountain Home Road
on Feb 7, 2017 at 11:15 am

PEOPLE IN CROWD:
I hear she has an extra eye
That always remains awake
I hear that she can shed her skin
As easily as a snake!
I hear some rebel Animals
Are giving her food and shelter!
I hear her soul is so unclean
Pure water can melt her!

FIYERO
What!?

CROWD
Melt her!?
Please - somebody go and melt her!

FIYERO
(spoken) Do you hear that - water will melt her?! People
are so empty-headed, they'll believe anything!


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